Dear Jessica,

I am starting to see more organic fruits and vegetables sold at the grocery store but I am not sure if they’re worth the money. Are organics really worth the hype?

Conscious Spender

Dear Conscious Spender,

I understand your concerns about buying organic produce. They definitely cost more but are a lot better for you and the environment. To me, the biggest reason to buy organic is because conventional produce is sprayed with potentially harmful chemicals.

Additionally, organic fruits and vegetables taste better, especially garden-picked vegetables, and have been found to have more nutrients than their conventional counterparts. Organic farming is also better for the environment and supports sustainable farming, whereas conventional farming depletes resources and causes soil erosion.

Fortunately, making small changes in your diet can dramatically reduce your exposure to these harmful chemicals. A study done by the Environmental Working Group (www.ewg.org/) found that you can lower your pesticide exposure by 90% if you avoid, or buy organically, the twelve most contaminated fruits and vegetables. These foods include: apples, bell peppers, celery, cherries, grapes (imported), nectarines, peaches, pears, potatoes, red raspberries, spinach, and strawberries.

There are also foods that tend to have less contaminates than others and therefore are not as important to buy organically grown. So if you cannot afford to buy all organic produce, these are the best to buy conventionally grown: asparagus, avocados, bananas, broccoli, cauliflower, corn (sweet), kiwi, mangos, onions, papaya, pineapples, and peas (sweet).

A great way to eat organics and save money is to grow your own vegetable garden or buy produce from a local farmer. I recently became a member of a community sponsored agriculture (CSA) farm and love it. During the summer, I get fresh vegetables that are picked ripe and I am able to avoid grocery store produce that may have been picked unripe to allow time for transit and sale. Buying locally grown vegetables is also less expensive than buying them at the grocery store and is a great way to support local farmers.

With Love,
Jessica

Jessica Tucker is passionate about food and healthy eating. If you have a food-related question that you would like answered in the journal, please email her at JessicaT@healinggardenjournal.com