Organic Farmers MarketOrganic Foods, Green Products, Books & Farming Information

Is Buying Organic Produce Worth It?

It depends.  For many, it can make sense to selectively purchase organic.  For example, a banana with a thick skin that you peel and throw away absorbs fewer pesticides than a strawberry, which acts as a virtual chemical sponge.  

The lab tests of the U.S. Department of Agriculture show that even after washing certain vegetables and fruits, they contain high levels of pesticides.  The highest, and perhaps the best items to buy organic, are: <b>apples, bell peppers, celery, cherries, imported grapes, nectarines, peaches, pears, potatoes, red raspberries, spinach, and strawberries</b>.  Some of the lowest concentration items were: <b>asparagus, avocados, bananas, broccoli, cauliflower, sweet corn, kiwi, mangos, onions, papaya, pineapples, and sweet peas</b>.

Anytime you buy organic produce you are supporting the use of fewer pesticides, herbicides and other chemicals being used and put into the environment, including the ground water.  In these cash strapped times, however, that may not always be reason enough for a family to increase their food budget.  Many people decide to buy organic because they want to limit their ingestion of potentially harmful chemicals and they believe organic is generally healthier.  

Sorting through the data on the harmful effects of different chemicals can be overwhelming and sometimes contradictory.  One problem is that although we know some potentially carcinogenic pesticides and chemicals build up in our bodies over time as we consume them, there are almost no studies looking at the very long term effects of this.  However, since 1996, when a new federal law required pesticides to meet safety standards for children, more than a dozen formerly widely used pesticides have been banned, restricted, or voluntarily withdrawn by manufacturers.

Children’s developing immune, central-nervous, and hormonal systems are especially vulnerable to damage from toxic chemicals.  Contrary to previous scientific belief, a 2005 study found that pesticides in a woman’s bloodstream can be passed to a fetus in the womb.  The Red Cross collected the umbilical-cord blood of children and after they tested it for pollutants it showed that 21 pesticides had crossed the placenta.  Looking at current data, then, it seems to be especially prudent for children and pregnant women to limit their chemical consumption by eating organic.

Currently there are protracted fights over banning additional pesticides in America that have been shown in studies to have harmful effects and have already been banned by the European Union.  Many other countries are much worse, however, such as Mexico.  Mexico frequently irrigates crops with sewage water and uses many chemicals which have been banned in America.  When buying conventional (non-organic) produce, it is a good idea to stick with vegetables and fruits grown in the United States.  In fact, the closer either a conventional or organic product is grown to you, the fresher and better it’s likely to be.  A great way to both support local farmers and significantly save on organic produce is to shop at farmers markets.  Farmers markets also feature almost exclusively produce that’s in season, which should be both fresher and tastier.

Besides reduced chemical exposure, several recent studies have found organic produce to be higher in nutrients and antioxidants.  In the largest study of its kind, a 2007 European Union study found that organic produce had 40% higher antioxidants than conventional produce.  Scientists believe this is likely because organically raised plants are more stressed without pesticides and chemical fertilizers to depend on and as a result create higher levels of antioxidants as a defense mechanism.

Everyone must make their own decision as to how much of their produce should be organic, if any at all. It seems though that it may be an especially good idea for pregnant women and children.  It also makes sense to try to buy the most easily contaminated produce as organic and to support local farmer’s markets whenever possible.  Lastly, when you do buy conventional produce it can be a good idea to avoid items from third world countries with lax regulations regarding pesticide and chemical use.

About the Author

As gourmet San Francisco Caterers, Componere Fine Catering’s owner Ethan Mantle uses seasonal, organic ingredients as much as possible. For those looking for the finest presentation and food in a San Francisco wedding caterer or San Francisco caterers, Componere Fine Catering can provide a truly memorable event.

The San Francisco Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market Cookbook $31.98 Inspired by the beautiful seasonal produce available from San Francisco`s Ferry Plaza Farmers` Market, a beautifully illustrated cookbook, organized according to season, features more than one hundred easy-to-prepare recipes, along with tips on selecting, storing, preparing, and freezing items.

The Westin San Francisco Market Street, San Francisco,CA,United States $153.9 Hotel property The Westin San Francisco Market Street, 4 Star, 50 Third Street in San Francisco, CA, United States

The Westin San Francisco Market Street $119 The Westin San Francisco Market Street > SFO > 50 3rd St > San Francisco > CA > 94103>Location. The Westin San Francisco Market Street is located in the South of Market district in San Francisco, Calif. This property stands across from the Yerba Buena Gardens, and one block from the Museum of Modern Art and the Moscone Convention Center. Hotel Features. The on site Ducca restaurant serves southern Italian cuisine in the dining room or al fresco on the hotel’s open terrace. Wireless Internet access is available in the hotel’s lobby for a fee. A business center houses six computer terminals and offers fax, scan, print and photocopy services. The 24 hour fitness center and health club features Westin Workout Powered by Reebok equipment. Plasma screen televisions are attached to each cardiovascular machine, and the center offers chilled water, towels and courtesy headsets. Guestrooms. The Westin San Francisco Market Street offers 676 guestrooms decorated in muted earth tones. Westin Heavenly Beds features pillowtop mattresses, 230 thread count cotton sheets, down comforters, white duvets, five down pillows, and bolster pillows. Floor to ceiling windows overlook the Yerba Buena Gardens and San Francisco’s bay and skyline. Flat screen televisions, complimentary laptop compatible, in room safes, and MP3 adaptors are included. All accommodations feature coffeemakers and stocked minibars. Marble bathrooms contain Heavenly toiletries. High speed wired and wireless Internet access is available for a fee. Expert Tip. Dogs receive Very Important Pet status at The Westin San Francisco Market Street hotel. Dogs receive Heavenly Dog Beds, food and water bowls and ID tags, while owners receive ASPCA pet friendly travel tips cards.>The preferred airport for The Westin San Francisco Market Street is San Francisco, CA (SFO San Francisco Intl.) 19 km / 11.8 mi. Distances are calculated in a straight line from the property’s location to the point of interest or airport and may not reflect actual travel distance. Distances are displayed to the nearest 0. 1 mile and kilometre.