Is Organic Really Better?

A few years ago
I bought some organic corn at the farmer’s market
And gave some to my friend Leah.
When she peeled the husk
She squealed in horror
Because there was a worm inside.
~Leah: “OMG! A WORM! This corn is bad. The corn that I buy at the supermarket never has worms.”
~Me: “When you buy organic produce you sometimes share it with the earth’s friendly creatures. The way I see it is, if even a worm wouldn’t eat it, why would I?”
~Leah: “Oh, I never thought about it that way.”Have you been thinking of whether or not to buy organic?

Fresh produce is good for us.
We all know that.
Most of us don’t eat enough fresh produce.

It is a good idea 
To make vegetables and fruits
The main course
In most of our meals.

But fresh produce can get expensive.
And organic fresh produce is sometimes outrageously more expensive.

Is it really better?
It is worth the higher price?

There are many benefits for choosing organic
There are health benefits
And environmental benefits
Organic farming is better for our planet
But I want to highlight the 3 benefits that are most important to me.

***NO CHEMICALS

Regular produce is full of chemicals
Pesticides
Herbicides
Chemical fertilizers.
They are sprayed on the produce
And are in the soil.
You can wash off some of the surface pesticides
And I recommend to peel non organic produce
But many of the chemicals are IN the produce
And cannot be removed

***MORE NUTRIENTS

Many researches show
That organic produce
Is higher in vitamins, mineral and phytonutrients.

***TASTE BETTER

It’s true!!!
Organic produce taste much better.
It might not look prettier
Than chemically and genetically enhanced
And waxed to a shine
Over large produce
But it taste like real produce
The worms know it
And so does the squirrels

For me personally
Organic is the way to go.
I buy most of my food organic.
I shop at TJ’s where organic is more affordable.
And I save elsewhere.
(Well, try to, anyway…)

If you are thinking of going organic but are worried about the cost
These lists can guide you about when it’s more important
To spend the extra money on organic choices
And when it’s ok to buy regular produce

THE 2016 DIRTY DOZEN

The following produce was tested with the highest content of pesticides, with 47 to 67 different chemicals. After 5 years of apple reign, strawberries now top the list.

1. Strawberries
2. Apples
3. Nectarines
4. Peaches
5. Celery
6. Grapes
7. Cherries
8. Spinach
9. Tomatoes
10. Bell peppers
11. Cherry tomatoes
12. Cucumbers

THE 2016 CLEAN FIFTEEN

The following produce was tested with relatively low content of pesticides.

1. Avocados
2. Corn
3. Pineapples
4. Cabbage
5. Sweet Peas
6. Onions
7. Asparagus
8. Mangoes
9. Papayas
10. Kiwis
11. Eggplant
12. Honeydew
13. Grapefruit
14. Cantaloupe
15. Cauliflower

Source: Environmental Working Group (EWG) 2016 shopper’s guide to produce.

What has been your experience with buying organic??? Let me know in the comments below.

xoxo

~Rachel

Please share.