Pesticide use starts organic discussion

Organic is healthier. Organic makes no difference. The argument about pesticides has been around for a long time, and both sides present compelling arguments.

The slogan for Bloomingfoods Market and Deli is “Local, Organic, Fresh.” Laughing Planet Cafe advertises healthy, organic food. Bloomington residents who prefer organic food are presented the option every day.

But why all the fuss?

Melissa Pope, a vendor at the Bloomington Community Farmers’ Market, said the jams and fruits she sells are fresher and healthier than those in chain grocery stores.

However, Siobhan DeLancey, U.S. Food and Drug Administration press officer, said in an e-mail the use of pesticides on produce does not make them unhealthy as long as pesticide residues are rinsed off after purchase.

“Supermarkets, as a rule, don’t wash produce before putting it out, but many stores mist it while it’s on display,” DeLancey said.

A 1990 report by three U.S. Environmental Protection Agency chemists observed four studies of fresh tomatoes treated with a fungicide, DeLancey said. The tomatoes were tested at harvest, packing house and at point of sale.

“The studies showed that more than 99 percent of the residues were washed off at thepacking house by the food processor,” DeLancey said.

Some Bloomington Farmers’ Market vendors believe that no residue is better than any.
Christina Bush, a vendor with Martin Hollow Farm, said all of her produce is in season and is not grown using chemicals.

“Everything we sell is organic,” Bush said. “It’s definitely safer for people.”

In the end, personal preference seems to be the deciding factor when it comes to choosing organic or not.

Even if you decide organic food is not your taste, the FDA recommends consumers wash their produce with cold or warm tap water, throw away the outer leaves of leafy vegetables and trim the fat and skin from meat in order to eliminate pesticide residues if they are present.