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Dirty Dozen Cheat Sheet: Foods to only buy organic

Anna Guyer | 02.06.10

Buying 100% organic produce is something to aspire to, but it isn't always possible. Access to organic produce may be limited where you live. Sometimes, though not always, buying organic is more expensive and families have to make choices based on budget. Living a green lifestyle often demands a bit of a balancing act.

That's where being an educated consumer is important. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has a Shopper's Guide to Pesticides to help people make smart decisions when choosing fruit and veg. Knowing which have the most pesticide residues puts you in control of reducing your intake of harmful chemicals which EWG says have been linked to a variety of health problems, including: nervous system toxicity, cancer, hormone system effects, and skin, eye and lung irritation.

According to EWG, "you can lower your pesticide consumption by nearly four-fifths by avoiding the 12 most contaminated fruits and vegetables and instead eating the least contaminated produce."

That's significant.

Check out their site for a downloadable list, or a link to their iPhone app.

Meanwhile, artist Heidi Kenney was inspired by EWG's list and has illustrated and created a handy "Dirty Dozen Cheat Sheet."

Carry it in your wallet and you'll always know the top fruit and veg you should only buy organic, as these are the highest offenders in pesticide residue. On the other side is a list of fruit and veg with the least amount of pesticide residue, so these are safer to buy when organic isn't an option.

You can download Heidi's Dirty Dozen Cheat Sheet here.

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A short guide to Organic, and why it is important to the planet

Greta Jonyniate | 12.09.11

September marks the annual celebration of all things organic and here at Greenhouse PR we are very passionate about it. We would like to encourage everyone over the course of this month to ‘give organic a go’ and learn more about the benefits that organic offers us, our soil, our animals and wildlife -promising a healthier planet for all of us.

Organic farming does not use synthetic pesticides and is good for the soil

Organic farming works in harmony with nature rather than against it. This involves using techniques to achieve good crop yields without harming the natural environment or the people who live and work in it. Over the last thirty years, intensive farming in the UK has led to dramatic erosion of the soil, a fall of up to 70% of wild birds in some areas, the destruction of ancient hedgerows, and the near extinction of some of the most beautiful species of butterflies, frogs, grass-snakes and wild mammals. Organic farming releases less greenhouse gases than non-organic farming - choosing organic, local and seasonal food can significantly reduce your carbon footprint.

Organic foods are healthy, GM free & taste better!

You may be surprised to know that over a million tonnes of GM crops are imported each year to feed the majority of non-organic livestock which produce pork, bacon, milk, cheese and other dairy products. Going organic is the only practical way to avoid eating genetically modified (GM) food. Fresh organic produce contains on average 50% more vitamins, minerals, enzymes and other micro-nutrients than intensively farmed produce. When you buy organic food you know that it’s not covered in a cocktail of poisonous chemicals. The average conventionally-grown apple has 20-30 artificial poisons on its skin, even after rinsing. Trust your instincts, and go organic!

Organically raised animals are more ethical

Organic standards insist that animals are given plenty of space and fresh air to thrive and grow - guaranteeing a truly free-range life. Organically raised animals are not given antibiotics; the overuse of antibiotics in factory farms has contributed to pollution problems and outbreaks of many deadly diseases. Organic farms are havens for wildlife and provide homes for bees, birds and butterflies. In fact, the UK Government’s own advisors found that plant, insect and bird life is up to 50% greater on organic farms.

Organic clothing is one way to live a "greener" lifestyle that supports the environment

Organic materials are grown toxin-free, reducing the amount of toxic chemicals we ingest and release into the earth. If you have skin sensitivities, the pesticides, herbicides, chemicals and artificial dyes present in regular cotton can aggravate dermatological conditions.

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Five of the best…organic veg box schemes

Greta Jonyniate | 19.01.12

We love box schemes for several reasons; they encourage locality which is good for the UK's farmers, they support green initiatives such as being organic, and best of all they're delivered to our doors!

Whether you’re looking for seasonal veg or slaughter-free milk, Britain’s box schemes make avoiding the supermarket a cinch

Organic food sales might have taken a recession-related hit but with consumers increasingly concerned about what they’re putting on their plates, things are looking up for the UK veg box industry. Although organic farmland only accounts for a miserly four per cent of the UK total, a much more impressive 86 per cent of households now regularly buy organic produce according to a 2011 report by the Soil Association. What’s more, they say, despite a sales drop of 5.9 per cent in 2010, they expect this trend to have reversed over the course of 2011 and to have continued into 2012. In an age of price cuts and austerity, that might sound like wishful thinking, but the latest sales figures released by Tesco – showing a significant drop in Christmas takings – suggest that things might just be changing.

Although supermarkets still account for the lion’s share of the retail market, the Soil Association’s report found that supermarket sales were declining, with the slack being picked up by independent retailers and box schemes. And despite talk of austerity and the Euro crisis, veg box sales actually increased by one per cent last year. A relatively recent phenomenon, veg box schemes have become a lifeline for small community growers who lack capital to hire premises of their own and who don’t want to be taken for a ride by the supermarkets. Greener, cleaner and with a focus on local food, veg boxes are the ultimate riposte to the food retail giants. So who’s best? Try one of these on for size.

Riverford Organics

Offering a choice of fruit, veg, fruit and veg or meat boxes in a range of different sizes, Riverford Organics offers you all the benefits of a farm shop without leaving the house. Originally entirely sourced from owner, Guy Watson’s Devonshire farm, Riverford produce now comes from farmers’ collectives spread all over the country with each group of farmers supplying the consumers in their locale. Not only are your purchases organic, it’s supporting the efforts of local farmers to boot.

Find out more: www.riverford.co.uk

Abel and Cole

Almost certainly the one you’ve already heard of, Abel and Cole is one of the most successful and longest running of the UK’s vegetable box schemes. Starting life as a purveyor of organic potatoes, the company has expanded into a full range of groceries including everything from locally grown onions to non-toxic cleaning products. Still topping the popularity charts though are the veg boxes, which come in a range of sizes and are updated weekly to reflect what’s in season. Better still, they’re affordable with prices for a small box starting at £9.

Find out more: www.abelandcole.co.uk

To read more, please go to theecologist's website or click HERE

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organic veg, organic fruit, organic farming, organic food