Is organic good for the environment?

 

Organic foods and organic farming are built on the principles of preserving soil and water quality and creating little or no pollution. Not using chemical or sewage as fertilizer reduces toxic runoff into rivers, lakes and ultimately into drinking water.

Animals are never given antibiotics or hormones and must have organic feed and safe, cage-free living conditions.

Crop rotation, cover crops, dense planting and animal manures are methods used to provide nutrients to plants as well as to control weeds and insects.

If I can’t afford to eat organic foods, what can I do to make my diet healthier?

The biggest downside to organic foods is higher production costs, which are passed on to consumers.

If you want to buy organic foods but cannot afford to do so for all of your produce, the non-profit Environmental Working Group reports the following fruits and vegetables have the highest and lowest pesticide levels when not purchased organic:

Highest pesticide levels:

• Strawberries.
• Spinach.
• Kale.
• Nectarines.
• Apples.
• Grapes.
• Peaches.
• Pears.
• Tomatoes.
• Celery.
• Potatoes.
• Hot peppers.

Lowest pesticide levels:

• Avocados.
• Sweet corn.
• Pineapple.
• Onions.
• Papaya.
• Sweet peas, frozen.
• Eggplant.
• Asparagus.
• Cauliflower.
• Cantaloupe.
• Broccoli.
• Mushrooms.
• Cabbage.
• Honeydew melon.
• Kiwi.

If you cannot afford to purchase organic produce, washing and scrubbing fresh fruits and vegetables under running water can help remove bacteria and chemicals from the surface of fruits and vegetables. Peeling fruits and vegetable can also remove surface pesticides, but also reduces nutrients.