How Organic Do You Have to Be?
The Daily Green has been getting blasted by readers responding to an article called “10 Foods You Don’t Have to Buy Organic.” The article, subtitled, “They Aren’t Loaded with Pesticides, So You Can Spend Your Organic Dollars Elsewhere,” lists 10 fruits and vegetables - asparagus, broccoli, bananasa, cabbage, kiwi, mangoes, onions, papaya and pineapple - that are safer to eat because they are more resistent to pests so fewer chemicals are used, or because they have skins that can be taken off before eating.
Many readers are aghast that the site should suggest the presence of any pesticides is ok. I understand their point. We’d certainly all be better off in a world where pesticides weren’t used. But I also understand the point of the article. Not everyone can afford to buy only organic products. I’m certainly one of those people. So I think it’s great that The Daily Green has highlighted the foods that are likely to have lower levels of pesticides. That means customers can spend their organic dollars elsewhere, as the subtitle says, knowing that they’re making the best decisions for their health without breaking the bank.
In a perfect world, no one would ever have to make a choice between fewer pesticides and no pesticides, but until we get there, I’m happy to take The Daily Green’s advice.
