A Plethora of Produce-Organic or Conventional--Either, just make sure you wash it!!

Spring, my favorite time of year. The birds are singing their hearts out, the tips of the trees are sprouting wonderful shades of green, tulips, daffodils, crocus, all popping out of the ground bursting with color...and the coming of wonderful produce in the stores and farmers markets. Soon we'll have gorgeous greens, stone fruits, berries, fresh zukes and cukes...and tomatoes that actually taste like tomatoes.

This is the time of year to take advantage and introduce babies/toddlers to the wonderful bounty. The question many ask, organic or conventional-- does it really make a difference? We in the Flava Family lean towards organic for as much as we can. It's more expensive, but we feel it's a bit better for us and the environment to use organic when possible. However, whether you use organic or conventional...make sure you wash it!!

Organic vs. Conventional is a hotly contended issue with pros and cons: Is it better for the environment? No toxic chemicals or pesticides on the food; no toxic run off into our water BUT some of the natural or organic pesticides are toxic to humans and wildlife.

Is Organic food healthier than conventionally grown food? That too is contested...many studies show there is no difference, but go to Organicconsumers.org
and according to their studies Vitamin C, nitrates and protein are higher in organic products.

Go to the National Library of Medicine PubMED from the NIH and they find no difference in one article and then in another...

Organic fruits and vegetables can be expected to contain fewer agrochemical residues than conventionally grown alternatives. There is a widespread belief that organic agriculture products are safer and healthier than conventional foods. It is difficult to come to conclusions, but what should be made clear to the consumer is that "organic" does not automatically equal "safe". In the absence of adequate comparative data, additional studies in this area of research are required.


SO, what to do??? Here is a simple rule of thumb: if you eat the skin of the produce go organic--grapes, apples, peaches, berries etc. If you peel the skin off to eat it then go conventional--bananas, melons, oranges etc. Is this the right way to go... who knows. We all need to do the best we can within the confines of our time, budget and lifestyles.

If you can do all organic, great go for it. Try Trader Joes if you have one...ours is carrying lots of organic produce cheaper than any place else.

The one thing I do to ALL produce, if it is conventional or organic, I WASH IT. When I do my cooking demos I use a lemon as a simple example. I tell people I scrub lemons before I cut them--they usually laugh...think about it. How many lemons do you pick up before you decide on one? How many others have picked through the pile just like you do? How many times have you dropped a piece of produce and placed it back up on the pile.

Think of the people who unpacked the box of lemons placing them one by one on the pile. Your cashier picks it up...as does the bagger. The number of hands that touch your produce before you bring it home is astounding. So whatever it is, wash it-I use a soft scrub brush and lather it up using dish soap. My Dietitian friend is appalled at that...what if some soap is left on it, you can get sick. The soap is the least of my concerns.

Think about it the next time a waitress says...would you like lemon in your water?!