Toxics in the Organic Aisle?

Toxics and sustainable agriculture are often the polar opposite philosophies regarding commercial food production. Many pesticides and herbicides are  agronomical subversives as the chemicals leach to neighboring fields, towns and cities, working their way into watersheds. To the commercial farmer, there sometimes doesn't seem like another option, and while I'm sympathetic to his fiscal concerns, I think if he really knew what he was doing, he wouldn't participate in what is, in my opinion, eco-terrorism.

On one hand, everyone understands that in order to make a reasonable profit using government subsidies, it is almost required to use pesticides and herbicides (or herbicide resistant GMOs) to keep crops alive against an otherwise flourishing biodiversity of plants and wildlife. This is the crux of our problem: It has become a vicious cycle.

Consumer safety is the forefront of the sustainable food movement. I recently found this amazing website: What's On My Food which gives a list of toxics in agriculture.  The following produce are aptly named, The Dirty Dozen:

1. 64 Pesticide Residues Found by the USDA Pesticide Data Program - Celery


2. 62 Pesticide Residues Found by the USDA Pesticide Data Program - Peaches


3. 54 Pesticide Residues Found by the USDA Pesticide Data Program - Strawberries


4. 51 Pesticide Residues Found by the USDA Pesticide Data Program - Lettuce


5. 49 Pesticide Residues Found by the USDA Pesticide Data Program - Sweet Bell Peppers


6. 48 Pesticide Residues Found by the USDA Pesticide Data Program - Spinach


7. 42 Pesticide Residues Found by the USDA Pesticide Data Program - Apples


8. 42 Pesticide Residues Found by the USDA Pesticide Data Program - Cherries


9. 37 Pesticide Residues Found by the USDA Pesticide Data Program - Potatoes


10. 34 Pesticide Residues Found by the USDA Pesticide Data Program - Grapes


11. 33 Pesticide Residues Found by the USDA Pesticide Data Program - Nectarines


12. 28 Pesticide Residues Found by the USDA Pesticide Data Program - Pears

Of all the produce one should buy locally and organically, these are the ones. As the Dirty Dozen comprises the bulk of an American produce diet, specifically our children, it's unbelievably important that we take great care in purchasing them.  Buy purchasing them from an accountable source, not only do we give ourselves better odds for healthfulness, but we send a vote to the commercial farmers.

The site gives a pretty in-depth listing of all the chemicals and their effects, cites sources and gives links to data.  You can also check against the "organic labeling" depending on whether the item is foreign or domestic by clicking on the "conventional" or "organic" link for each chemical.  The image at left is regarding Iprodion Residue in peaches. Note how this chemical is still found on imported organic peaches.

Now this is not to say that everything imported organic is unsafe, but what it is to say is that we can't always trust an "organic" label simply for it being labeled organic: there's always more to the story. Iprodion is labeled as a carcinogen, with potential to contaminate ground water, so that's something to consider.

If there wasn't already enough evidence to support choosing an accountable source for your produce, this site should really help a person make an informed decision about what kinds of chemicals are being put into the body directly or by way of environmental toxic pollution. It's our responsibility to ensure the safety of food from toxics.