After reading Jane Goodall’s book the most pressing change I felt I had to make was to start buying organic & locally produced foods. The switch to organic was in part due to the potential risks of eating genetically-modified foods that may contain chemical pesticides & herbicides, antibiotics & hormones, all of which can be found in regularly produced foods & have been scientifically linked to a variety of human health concerns, including hormonal disruptions, cancer & neurological disease. Whether organic food is in fact more nutritious than regularly produced food is still uncertain, with studies yielding mixed results. But the environmental benefits of organic farming are huge. Organic production contributes to the conservation of natural resources, significantly reducing the amount of chemical pollutants that go into our soil, waterways & air. This is also good news for farmers & workers, as it limits their exposure to potentially harmful chemicals. Less dependence on artificial inputs also means more sustainable farming practices that mimic natural processes, protecting our crops & land for future generations. For animals it also means a much happier life, in which they are fed organic (& usually their natural) diets & given outdoors access. Surely happier, healthier animals mean tastier meat for us! Furthermore, by supporting smaller scale, organic farms we are rejecting the giants of the industrialized agribusiness, many of whom have financial & leadership ties with governments.
However, making the switch to organic can be overwhelming & expensive!
If reducing exposure to harmful chemicals is your first priority in buying organic, then fresh produce is a great place to start.
In the US, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) has created a list known as ‘the Dirty Dozen’, resulting from the analysis of data about pesticide residue. It ranks foods based on the amount of residue they contain & it estimates that an individual can reduce their exposure by 80% if they switch to organic when buying these foods.
The Dirty Dozen (US):
- Apples, including apple juice & apple sauce
- Celery
- Strawberries
- Peaches
- Spinach
- Nectarines
- Grapes, raisins also. What does that mean for wine?
- Bell Peppers
- Potatoes
- Blueberries
- Lettuce
- Kale/Collard Greens
The order & inclusion of a few foods do differ slightly from year to year, but in general, tree fruits, berries and leafy greens (including herbs) have the highest residues. Fruits and vegetables with thick skins have much lower levels of pesticide residues. Washing & peeling produce does not significantly reduce the amount of residue & peeling can result in lost nutrients.
While not in the top 12, the EWG also suggests buying organic meat, milk products, coffee, wine & chocolate, as they can also contain high levels of pesticide residue & many of these products come from other countries that have less regulated farming practices. More details on some of these products will follow in later blogs.
The Dirty Dozen (Australia)
Unfortunately no such comprehensive list exists in Australia & because of differences in production practices, this list cannot be completely transferred to Australia. However, one Australian website does offer a useful perspective.
There are three groups of things that you should really buy organic, and they’re pretty easy to remember:
- Soft fleshed produce – stonefruit, grapes, berries
- Edible skin produce – carrots, apples, pears, capsicums, celery
- Leafy greens – lettuce, spinach, leafy herbs like parsley.
A guide to the Australian Dirty Dozen:
- Strawberries
- Peaches, nectarines, plums, cherries
- Carrots
- Apples
- Spinach
- Nectarines
- Capsicums
- Lettuce
- Carrots
- Pears
- Tomatoes
- Grapes
Although potatoes are on the EWG’s Dirty Dozen, Australian potatoes have been tested and show almost no chemical residues, so paying extra for organic may not be worthwhile in this respect.
Taken from the Hello Charlie Blog
Become a Locavore
The concept of buying locally produced products has been important to me for some time, as it supports local small businesses & workers & enriches the local economy. But in terms of food there is even more to it. Local produce is fresher than items that have had to be flown or shipped from the other side of the country or the world (many of which are often picked unripe or filled with chemicals in order to survive the journey), not to mention less costly on the environment because of the reduced amount of transportation. Plus when bought directly from the producer you can ensure you know exactly where your food has come from & how it has been produced & can be confident that your money is going straight into their pocket.
Farmer's Markets
I have discovered the best way to buy local & organically grown produce is from the Farmer's Market, where you are purchasing directly from the growers. Here in Ottawa, there are several to choose from, including one specifically devoted to selling organic products. My personal favourite is the Ottawa Farmer's Market held at Brewer Park every Sunday from 8-3. The first time I checked it out I was overwhelmed by the number of stalls & the variety of products sold. I also found that many of the stalls did not advertise if their food was organic or not, making it hard to know where to shop. So before my next visit I checked out the Market's website & was able to find detailed information about every seller, including links to those that had websites. I even managed to find one producer who is originally from Australia & has named his farm Waratah Downs! I then had a bit more direction & now have a handful of stalls that are my regulars. At most farmer's markets you can also find plenty of yummy food to enjoy whilst shopping. A few weekends ago Jason & I grabbed a cooked breakfast before making our purchases. Certainly makes shopping more enjoyable!
Ottawa Farmer's Market
Community Supported Agriculture
I have friends who also participate in Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) or Food Boxes associated with local farms, which is another great way to purchase local & organic produce. The way it works is that people purchase shares of a local farm, usually paying a set price every fortnight, month etc, offering financial support to the farmer & rewarding the buyer with a regular supply of the farm's produce. Often the goodies are delivered to your house or can be collected from a central location, such as the Farmer's Market, or even the farm itself. Different programs allow different levels of choice in the products you receive, with some allowing you to switch items or purchase extras. Some also link up with other farms to provide a wider selection of items, including fruits & vegetables, meat and dairy. This program works well for those who don't have the time to shop or don't have access to a Farmer's Market.
Health food stores or smaller grocers often stock a good range of local & organic products. Larger, chain grocery stores usually have more limited options, especially when it comes to finding both local & organic. Plus these options mean a lower percentage of the profits go directly to the farmers.
Organic vs Local
Since making the commitment to purchasing organic & local food there have been times when buying both local & organic food is not an option & I've had to choose one or the other. For example, what do I choose when faced with the dilemma of buying either locally grown strawberries or organic ones from the US? Ultimately the choice is personal & depends on your priorities when making decisions. If health is your main concern & you want to avoid ingesting harmful chemicals at all costs, then you'll likely go with organic. But if those locally grown strawberries taste like no others & you prefer to risk pesticide residue for a short season once a year & support nearby farms, then you'll likely go for the non organic local ones. In her book The Conscious Kitchen, Alexandra Zissu suggests asking local farmers about their practices, as some without the organic label still use more sustainable farming methods, including reduced use of sprays & alternative pest controls. She also suggests that when it comes to buying any items off 'The Dirty Dozen' list, that organic, preferably from your home country, is best, especially when feeding infants, children & pregnant women, who take in more chemical residues based on weight ratio & are more vulnerable whilst they develop. Unfortunately sometimes this dilemma may even result in the choice to no longer buy particular items. Sadly this was the choice I made during the Summer in regards to peaches, which are on 'The Dirty Dozen' list, as I could not locate locally grown ones that were organic & the US organic ones from my local health food grocer were bland & floury, tasting nothing like a good peach should!
To begin with, shopping mindfully can be a slow process, involving a lot of umming & ahhing, label & ingredient list reading & visits to many different stores. But with time & trial & error it gets easier & is ultimately worth it. Try to enjoy it & don't be too hard on yourself, as just becoming educated & thinking more about the food choices we make is a step in the right direction.
Useful Resources:
List of Ottawa Food Markets
'Harvest for Hope: A Guide To Mindful Eating' by Jane Goodall
