Going organic?

Often times when people think of living and eating in a more healthy manner, the first thing they tell themselves is, "Well, I MUST buy organic!  That is going to be SO expensive!"  or  "I don't know how So & So does it. They must have deep pockets, because have you seen that organic stuff? It's expensive!"
Trust me, we've all been there.  Feeling super overwhelmed about the prospect of finding and being able to afford all organic.  Wondering if we'll see dramatic impacts on our health.  Also wondering if we'll look ridiculous trying to ensure foods meet our organic "standards."

Well, I have good news!  At least when it comes to produce.  A while back, one of my favorite companies, the Environmental Working Group, created a list of "The Dirty Dozen."  If you follow any kind of health blog or news, you've probably heard this list come before.  The EWG ranked the fruits & vegetables most contaminated with pesticides in the dirty dozen list; in other words, the produce you WANT to buy organic.  They also have a list of the "Clean 15," which are fruits & vegetables with the lowest pesticide count, meaning you could go either way (conventional or organic).  You can even download a pocket guide here or find an app for your iPhone!
You better believe I carry one of these reference lists in my wallet.

One easy way for me to remember, when I can't scramble into my wallet to find the list, is to think of fruits or vegetables with thin skins as generally containing more pesticides if conventionally grown, and fruits & vegetables with thicker skins having more protection or barriers from pesticides if conventionally grown.  This isn't true in every case, but considering that peaches, blueberries, apples, nectarines, cherries, potatoes & imported grapes are on the dirty dozen list, I generally feel safe with this assumption.

Now, if knowing that some of your favorite fruits & vegetables are high on the pesticide list isn't enough to sway you in trying to buy organic or locally-grown, consider what pesticides might actually do:

"The growing consensus among scientists is that small doses of pesticides and other chemicals can cause lasting damage to human health, especially during fetal development and early childhood.  Scientists now know enough about the long-term consequences of ingesting these powerful chemicals to advise that we minimize our consumption of pesticides." 

(EWG's Shopper's Guide available @ FoodNews.org)

Furthermore, a recent report from Pediatrics shows that there may be a link between pesticides found in children and the incidence of ADHD.  So, while sometimes it may not seem affordable, convenient, or just feasible to always get organic, it is still worth the consideration.  And if you can't, rinse your produce thoroughly!  Children have enough obstacles to deal with; preventing ADHD is just one wonderful way you can help them on to a better life!

So, if you buy organic, where do you get your produce?  At the grocery store?  Through a CSA (community supported agriculture)?   A co-op?  Your own backyard?  Do tell!