pesticides: what to avoid, and what's okay

eating organic wasn't something we ever really learned about, right? i mean, if you really think about it, the way americans shop at the market is pretty standard: follow the big yellow price signs in the produce department and pick what not only what looks most fresh, but costs the least, too. which, of course, organic is not.

but even for those who are buying organic, nobody is quite sure why it's better and if some foods are okay to buy if they're not organic. growing up in california, i knew strawberries year-round. big, plump, juicy ones - but it's funny, because it wasn't until last summer when we moved to chicago that i tasted my first real, true strawberry.

(at the market via sarahpoelstra's photostream)

thumb nail sized berries with chive-like stems that just radiated with that bright ruby color like in the picture above - but yeah, they definitely aren't cheap. but they also aren't covered and caked in pesticides like the giant strawberries i know so well from home - the same strawberries i see in grocery stores all over chicago - which leads me to my point... unless you make nice with the produce workers, the supermarkets aren't going to take the reigns and teach shoppers what's best to buy, and it for sure won't be the government, which means we're kind of at a loss, aren't we?

that's why i try and pounce on these things as soon as i can. starting june 2, cnn will be running a two-part report on pesticides in our food - and they've thrown together a list, as well as the short video above, as a precursor of what's good to buy non-organic, and what should be avoided.

the government states that consuming pesticides in small amounts is not harmful. how do you feel about that? you mind eating these foods, caked in the stuff even after washing? the government's pockets are lined with gold by big food, so of course low doses aren't harmful... i bet your doctor would tell you the same thing, wouldn't he or she?

(not sure what about this is anywhere near appetizing...

the obvious via through joanne's eye's photostream)

and the thing of it is, fruit is tested for pesticides after it's been washed by the farmers. so that old trick you thought was helping, running the sink and giving your food a quick rinse? not really helping...

the bottom line is this. the edible parts of foods with a skin or husk aren't exposed to the chemicals like a strawberry or an apple. so think about it: if you have to peel it, like a banana, then it's okay to save your money and by what's cost-effective for you. but those berries you love? even though organic berries are sometimes twice the cost of non-organic, you're only helping yourself and anyone else in your home in the long-run.

here's a list to follow. if nothing else, i hope it at least will give you second thoughts...

what to avoid

celery
peaches
strawberries
apples
domestic blueberries
nectarines
sweet bell peppers
spinach, kale and collard greens
cherries
potatoes
imported grapes

lettuce

and what's okay

onions
avocados
sweet corn
pineapples
mango
sweet peas
asparagus
kiwi fruit
cabbage
eggplant
cantaloupe
watermelon
grapefruit
sweet potatoes

sweet onions

happy eating.