Why Buy Organic Fruit?
Is organic fruit really better for you? What’s the big fuss about? Should you pay the extra cash for organics? Well, there are three key reasons: taste, health and better for the planet
Organic Fruit Tastes Better
The short answer is about what you want in your fruit: organic foods are simply more delicious and nutritious than non-organic ones. Study after study has shown that the levels of vitamins and antioxidants in organic foods are more concentrated than in non-organics.
Organic farming relies on compost, biological pest control, and crop rotation to enhance productivity and a healthy yield. Sustainable agriculture balances and enhances the health of ecosystems—from the smallest microorganism in the soil to human beings. The very highest quality produce is invariably organic produce. So while you may pay more, you also get more.
Organic Fruit is Healthier
The long answer, unfortunately, is about what you don’t want to get in your fruit. High doses of pesticides can cause reproductive or neurological damage. Organophosphates in pesticides, commonly found in many fruits, are linked to decreased intelligence and an increase in attention problems in children. They may also affect hormone levels in adults.
Apples are consistently named one of the most pesticide-contaminated of all fruits and vegetables. Choosing organic apples is one of the best ways to make a different in both lowering the pesticide exposure of your family members and to use consumer power to influence agriculture. As bad as pesticide-treated apples can be for you, organic ones are fantastic for you--they are powerhouses of antioxidant activity.
Some of the other worst offenders include strawberries, peaches, nectarines, cherries, and pears. Unfortunately, these are some of the most popular foods for children, who are among the population most affected by pesticide residue. Government testing finds an average on nine different pesticides on a single sample of some of these fruits. We do not yet fully understand the toxic effects of multiple pesticides on the most vulnerable and sensitive among us. Should your little one be the test subject? The good news is this: kids’ pesticide exposure drops quickly when they switch to an organic diet.
Organic Wine is More Natural
Straight produce is not the only source of pesticides in our diets—unfortunately, wine is a leading culprit for many adults. In
In organic vineyards, compost replaces fertilizers, biological controls replace pesticides, and cover crops promote biological diversity and prevent soil erosion. Most growers say that organic grapes offer a more pure flavor, more intense aromas, and simply better fruit than their chemically-addled counterparts.
As an added bonus, organic wines contain a much higher percentage of reservatrol, a chemical compound found in the skin of red grapes that has antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, life-prolonging effects. (Red wines have higher levels of reservatrol than whites.)
Organic Fruit is Better for the Planet
Buying organic foods creates market demand, paving the way for more organics in the future. You’re not only taking care of your own health—you’re helping the health of the planet, not to mention the farm workers and other people in the production chain. Choosing natural growing fruits ensures the farmers and all who work for him will not be exposed to toxic chemicals that are used in many areas. The organic choice is better for the environment, the farmer, and you.
Organic farming prepares the earth for future generations, not just this one. You and your family are eating for future generations, not just this one. Do you need another reason?
