AVOID THE DIRTY DOZEN
Nowadays there are so many choices at the supermarket when shopping for groceries. With so many options and varieties like conventional, non-GMO, fairtrade, organic, and so on - it can be really confusing or hard to make a decision on what to buy and from where! There are rules of thumb that make navigating the shopping experience just a touch easier when it comes to making informed decisions. When it comes to producing, avoid the dirty dozen!
You’re probably wondering what’s the dirty dozen?! The dirty dozen refers to twelve crops that have the highest amount of pesticide residue. Eating pesticides can cause a myriad of health issues, according to the world health organization, “pesticides induce adverse health effects including cancer, effects on reproduction, immune or nervous systems.” Not only that, pesticides are disruptive to our hormones, and brain function. So there really is a lot of incentive to avoid these non-organic foods. The dirty dozen list is as follows!
Nectarines
Grapes
Cherries
Peaches
Pears
Bell and hot peppers
Celery
Tomatoes
Time mentions that “fruits, vegetables, and grains labeled organic are grown without the use of most synthetic pesticides or artificial fertilizers. (The National Organic Standard Board does allow some synthetic substances to be used.) While such chemicals have been deemed safe in the quantities used for conventional farming, health experts still warn about the potential harms of repeated exposure.”
So eating organic doesn’t necessarily mean our health is entirely in the clear, but it is certainly a much more sound decision to buy fruits and vegetables that have minimal exposure to toxic chemicals. Organic produce is cultivated specifically for this purpose. To take our buying a step further, our best bet is to buy from local farms that have sustainable practices. You can talk to the people who grow your food, and it’s not coming from an unknown source that traveled hundreds of miles to get to your plate.
Choosing organic and local boosts the local economy, small farmers, and is all-around good for your health. If getting to the farmer’s market isn’t easily accessible for you, there are many companies that supply CSA boxes.