Entry bubble Buying Organic

By: Colleen | June 17, 2009 | Category: Money

Personally, I don't give a hoot if my food is organic or not.

I know not caring makes me completely un-trendy and quite possibly just plain stupid, but I can list all 50 states alphabetically and recite all the books of the Bible IN ORDER (this makes me an instant hit at cocktail parties). What more do you want from me?

For those of you who are overall healthier and smarter than me, here are some tips to use when purchasing your organic foods. Keep in mind, in 2002 the USDA implemented uniform organic standards for American farmers- organic foods much be produced without chemical pesticides or fertilizers and in livestock, without the use of antibiotics or growth hormones.

  • The demand for organic products has grown tremendously in the past few years (making it a $28 billion industry in 2008). Because of this, you no longer need to shop at speciality (and expensive!) organic stores. Many grocery chains offer their own cheaper organic lines- but the best place to go is still a local farmer's stand or market.
  • Integrate your most heavily used foods as organic first. For most people these are items like milk and eggs. When buying organic fruits and vegetables, focus on items that traditionally carry more pesticides: peaches, apples, bell peppers, and celery.
  • Buy your produce in season and locally since out of area produce uses more fossil fuel to ship. Also check country-of-origin stickers.
  • Don't fret over fish. Right now there are no government standards for what makes seafood and shellfish organic.

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Entry bubble Apple of my Eye

By: Jake | October 08, 2007 | Category: Home and Family

Happy Columbus Day!

A basket of apples sitting by an apple treeEven though the temperature doesn't feel like it's dropping and the leaves haven't quite changed color, it's autumn. However the fruits of fall, apples and pumpkins, are ripe. I know this because after spending the weekend in the Shenandoah Valley for a wedding I made a quick detour to an apple orchard on the way home. It was very relaxing to pick fresh fruit and I would recommend it if you are looking for a fun weekend get away this month.

If you want to find an orchard near you, your best resource is your local United States Department of Agriculture Cooperative Extension office. These offices can tell you where to find any agricultural product in your area and tell you what farms are certified organic. If you don't have time to go pick your own apples, USDA can help you find your closest Farmer's Market.

The University of Illinois Cooperative Extension office has created a thorough apple resource with nutritional information and fun facts. Though I haven't tried any, the Washington State Apple Commission has a great number of apple recipes. That apple strudel looks pretty tasty to me.

| View Comments [4] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: agriculture   apples   cooperative   extension   fall   farmer's   markets   usda