Have you ever stopped in your tracks in the produce department and wondered where the organic produce was? Perhaps you have neither thought about where your produce comes from or even cared.
Well now that you ate reading this educate yourself on how to differentiate between organic, conventionally grown and genetically grown produce.
So What’s the Difference?
Organic foods are foods that are produced using methods that do not involve modern synthetic inputs such as synthetic pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Organic Foods also do not contain genetically modified organisms, and are not processed using irradiation, industrial solvents, or chemical food additives.
Conventionally Grown foods typically are given antibiotics, hormones or fed with pesticides.
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are where the product (plants or animals) whose DNA has been altered. These products have undergone only short-term testing to determine their effects on humans and the environment.
Pesticides VS. None
Organic produce (No Pesticides)
- Grown with natural fertilizers (manure, compost).
- Weeds are controlled naturally (crop rotation, hand weeding, mulching, and tilling).
- Insects are controlled using natural methods (birds, good insects, traps).
Conventionally grown produce (Pesticides used)
- Grown with synthetic or chemical fertilizers.
- Weeds are controlled with chemical herbicides.
- Insecticides are used to manage pests and disease.
Organic Produce That Should Be Bought
- Apples
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Celery
- Cherries
- Grapes (imported)
- Kale
- Lettuce
- Nectarines
- Peaches
- Pears
- Strawberries
Conventionally Grown Foods With Low Pesticides (due to thick skin or peel)
- Asparagus
- Avocado
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Corn (sweet)
- Eggplant
- Kiwi
- Mango
- Onion
- Papaya
- Pineapple
- Peas (sweet)
- Sweet Potatoes
- Tomatoes
- Watermelon
