Hello North Sac! The Truth Sleuth is back to answer another one of our reader’s pressing questions this month, one that has even dogged me in the pursuit of the truth: is organic produce better than “regular” produce?
Organic foods are grown according to standards developed by the Food and Drug Administration to be free of chemicals such as pesticides and fungicides. In order to effectively cultivate these products without chemical aides, growers must resort to other pest control and fertilization methods, many of which are more labor intensive than chemical means. Therefore, there is a greater cost to produce the produce, so to speak. Because of the absence of chemical enhancements and preservatives, organic foods look misshapen and uninspiring in the produce aisle, and can tend to spoil faster once you get them home. Non-organic fruits and vegetables are cultivated with the use of chemical products, but look shinier and cost less on the shelves. So, what’s “better?” I asked some market research specialists in the field of produce selection – i.e. grocery shoppers -- what they thought on this subject.
Marie states she likes the “quality and taste” of organic produce, and that is what she regularly chooses for her household. Leigh, on the other hand, had a bad experience with finding insects in her organic cauliflower, and sticks to regular produce for her family. Stacey had this to say: “I like ‘eating clean’ whenever I can. I'm concerned about the amount (and types) of fertilizers and bug sprays and everything else that gets put on our food, and therefore into our bodies. If an organic version is available, in good condition and at a reasonable cost, I will buy it over a non-organic version.”