GUEST POST BY COMMUNITY ORGANICS FOUNDER, DAMIEN LA FERLA ON THE FRESH FRUITS AND VEG WITH THE LEAST AMOUNT OF PESTICIDES TO OPT FOR WHEN SHOPPING.
The use of pesticides can increase crop production and may make produce look more appealing, but pesticides are toxic chemicals designed to kill agricultural pests and some can cause problems if they are consumed by humans.
Shoppers across Australia and globally, are becoming more and more conscious of the produce they’re purchasing and are looking to ensure that they, and their families, are eating nourishing foods free of pesticides and harsh chemicals.
Conventional farming often uses insecticides, fungicides, fertilisers and weed killers – which unsurprisingly aren’t great for human consumption or the environment. Washing fruit and vegetables at home can help and it’s strongly advised, but even washing your produce doesn’t remove all of the chemicals that the produce has grown in. That’s why consumers should aim to eat Certified-Organic foods whenever possible.
Experts agree that eating foods without genetically modified components and synthetic chemicals is considerably better for our health and is one of the best ways to start eating healthy and more sustainable for the environment. However, opting to eat only organic isn’t always easy. It can be time-consuming and expensive.
That’s why whenever organic produce isn’t available or up to scratch, the team at Community Organics leans on the globally-recognised Clean 15 List, as updated annually by not-for-profit organisation, Environmental Working Group (EWG).
The Clean 15 list for 2020 includes avocado, sweet corn, pineapple, onion, papaya, sweet peas, eggplant, asparagus, cauliflower, rockmelon, broccoli, mushrooms, cabbage, honeydew and kiwi fruit.
These 15 fruits and vegetables are safer and preferable than other non-organic produce because they have the lowest amount of pesticide residue. Buying and eating organic is always our first preference, however sometimes the flavour and quality isn’t quite up to scratch on particular organic items, and that’s when we feel comfortable using the Clean 15 as a guide to choosing conventionally grown produce.
When it comes to choosing the best produce, my top tips are:
- ASK QUESTIONS – you’re entitled to this as a paying consumer. Ask about your food, who grew it, where it was grown and from where it has travelled. Learn to love the story behind your food – it makes it taste more delicious. Get to know your local farmers, farmers’ markets and their practices.
- READ LABELS – educate yourself on the industry so that you can better understand the process. Generally, the fewer additives, the better.
- TASTE! When sourcing your produce, stay on the lookout for two things – flavour and quality. To pass the test, every single fruit & vegetable has to look great, taste great and be super fresh.
- CHOOSE CERTIFIED ORGANIC OR USE THE ‘CLEAN 15’ LIST when organic isn’t an option for you.
Learn more at: www.communityorganics.com.au.
