Organic vs. Non Organic
Rashanah Baldwin
Published: March 1, 2011
There is much speculation about selecting organic foods versus regular foods. Despite the economic turmoil’s, some shoppers are willing to spend the extra dollars on organic foods.
Quality and fresh food is often at the forefronts of the minds of Englewood residents, they often venture out to buy the most sustainable food at places like Whole Foods and Trader Joe's. The lack of fresh and organic produce in the community is a thing of the past, Englewood has its own farm called Wood Street Ubran Farm located at 5814 S. Wood Street.
In choosing organic versus non organic-food, Englewood consumers must keep in mind that the term organic is not the only word used to label foods as fresh or pesticide free; there are also foods labeled as natural. Organic.org and Chicago Tribune Health Columnist Julie Deardorff notes that not all organic food is better or superior to non-organic food.
Many farmers and retailers often find that going 100% organic is costly and it takes a long process to become certified organic. Instead, some farmers and retailers have opted to be 100% natural, which means their food does not contain additives or preservatives.
Another important factor to keep in mind is what nutritional value organic food offers versus regular foods, especially when shopping for items such as fruits and vegetables. It’s common practice to spray pesticides on many types of produce, but choosing a vegetable or fruit that has the least amount of pesticides, while retaining plenty of nutrition, is a great option. Such produce are often labeled “The Clean 15”.
Deardoff mentions in a 2010 article that the best organic fruits to buy are strawberries, peaches, apples, cherries, grapes, nectarines and pears. These fruits are the most heavily sprayed with pesticides and their thin soft skin layers makes them more susceptible to the toxic chemicals. The best organic vegetables to buy include bell peppers, celery, kale and lettuce. These fruits and vegetables are more likely to be drowned in pesticides as opposed to tougher skinned produce such as pineapples, watermelons, coconuts, avocados and even corn. The pesticide infested produce are often referred to as the “Dirty Dozen”. Gourmet Food.com lists their top 12 foods to buy organic which include: nectarines, celery, pears, peaches, apples, cherries, strawberries, apples, cherries, strawberries, imported grapes, spinach, potatoes, bell peppers and red raspberries.
Consumers who opt to buy organic produce will spend a little bit more money than they would on non-organic produce but they can be assured that they will receive more iron, magnesium and antioxidant poly-phonies in their produce. This is particularly true of certain organic foods and this does not mean all organic food is nutrient superior to non-organic.
In assuring the food that consumer’s purchase is actually organic look for labels marked USDA organic, or pay attention to the size and texture of the food.
However residents no longer have to travel outside of Englewood, they can also enjoy fresh and affordable produce at the Englewood Farmer's Market.
For more information on the Englewood Farmer's Market, contact Team Work Englewood at 815 W. 63rd Street or by phone (773) 488-6612 .
Keywords:
Englewood Health, Englewood Portal, fruits, Health Concerns, Healthy Eating in Englewood, Organic, Rashanah Baldwin
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