Forums: September 2010 Kickstart Forum Archive: Apples - organic vs. regular
Created on: 09/23/10 01:18 PM Views: 3165 Replies: 9
revolutionoftheheart Joined: 01/07/10 Location: NYC Posts: 164	Apples - organic vs. regular Posted Thursday, September 23, 2010 at 1:18 PM The previous thread about apples and apple skins got me thinking about wax and pesticides. Thought I'd make my question a separate thread. If I am buying regular supermarket apples (can't really afford organic product) do I need to worry about wax and the pesticides contained within? I love apples and make an easy baked sugar-free apple raisin cinnamon walnut compote ... but I take the skins off first because of the concerns noted above, and also because they tend to get papery to ingest. When I juice I don't even bother to take the skins off. Yeah, I'm a bit lazy. Do I need to buy a fruit pre-wash and scrub the apples first? "In their behavior toward creatures, all men are Nazis. Human beings see oppression vividly when they're the victims. Otherwise they victimize blindly and without a thought." Isaac Bashevis Singer, author, Nobel Prize 1978
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Bugsmom Joined: 09/13/10 Posts: 2070	RE: Apples - organic vs. regular Posted Thursday, September 23, 2010 at 2:22 PM We usually just use lots of good old running water to wash our apples (and other fruits that we eat the peel/skin like grapes). I tend to wonder what is in the "fruit and veggie wash" and if it's all that much better to ingest. We also do try to get organics - living in New England does have some advantages during apple season If we can't get organic, I at least look for something grown locally. The coating is often used to protect the fruit/retard spoilage in transit. Less transit often means they don't coat the fruit. (at least, that's my guess based on comparing conventional apples that are locally grown versus conventional apples from elsewhere) Plus, the local orchards don't have big factory facilities to coat the apples - they just pick them and ship them. --Deb
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revolutionoftheheart Joined: 01/07/10 Location: NYC Posts: 164	RE: Apples - organic vs. regular Posted Thursday, September 23, 2010 at 2:33 PM Bugsmom wrote: We usually just use lots of good old running water to wash our apples (and other fruits that we eat the peel/skin like grapes). I tend to wonder what is in the "fruit and veggie wash" and if it's all that much better to ingest. We also do try to get organics - living in New England does have some advantages during apple season If we can't get organic, I at least look for something grown locally. The coating is often used to protect the fruit/retard spoilage in transit. Less transit often means they don't coat the fruit. (at least, that's my guess based on comparing conventional apples that are locally grown versus conventional apples from elsewhere) Plus, the local orchards don't have big factory facilities to coat the apples - they just pick them and ship them. --Deb Good idea to frequent some of the farmer's markets that I can get to ... like the one at Union Square in NYC ... or I can't wait to take a little excursion and get to some of those apple picking harvests or road-side stands. Do you think just rinsing with water really does the trick? I don't know ... when I used to make my baked apple dish with the skins on, I thought I saw a waxy residue in the juices. "In their behavior toward creatures, all men are Nazis. Human beings see oppression vividly when they're the victims. Otherwise they victimize blindly and without a thought." Isaac Bashevis Singer, author, Nobel Prize 1978
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Bugsmom Joined: 09/13/10 Posts: 2070	RE: Apples - organic vs. regular Posted Thursday, September 23, 2010 at 2:36 PM I'm no expert but I have seen things in print and online that say that a good scrub with just plain water (use a vegetable brush if you've got one) is just fine. --Deb
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beasadeghi Joined: 09/09/10 Posts: 16	RE: Apples - organic vs. regular Posted Thursday, September 23, 2010 at 7:07 PM Do you know about "the dirty dozen"? You can get this guide to pesticides list on foodnews.org. Apple is one of the 12 dirtiest in regards to pesticide residues. So the recommendation is to always buy organic apples. Unfortunately when it comes to pesticides washing and peeling doesn't do it. Beatrice
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mollyhorn Joined: 03/03/10 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 582	RE: Apples - organic vs. regular Posted Thursday, September 23, 2010 at 7:23 PM revolutionoftheheart wrote: If I am buying regular supermarket apples (can't really afford organic product) do I need to worry about wax and the pesticides contained within? I love apples and make an easy baked sugar-free apple raisin cinnamon walnut compote ... but I take the skins off first because of the concerns noted above, and also because they tend to get papery to ingest. When I juice I don't even bother to take the skins off. Yeah, I'm a bit lazy. Do I need to buy a fruit pre-wash and scrub the apples first? Two things to consider: 1.) Yes, apples are on the dirty dozen list. However, they are still a LOT better than eating meat and dairy, which contain astronomical amounts of pesticides, far more than any produce item contains. If you wash your apples with clean water, you'll remove a good amount of the pesticides. (About 50%, from waxed items, much more from non-waxed.) 2.) Most of the fiber in fruit is in the skin. If you remove the skin, such as in your dessert or drinking apple juice, you're removing the fiber, which is a large part of why fruit and vegetables are beneficial to us in the first place. Skin-on is a far better choice! I go by the rule of cost: If I can afford the organic version, then I buy it. But I'm on a limited budget, and often the organic versions are prohibitively expensive. So, I remember this: Eating a conventional apple is still a lot better than eating no apple at all. By cutting meat and dairy out of your diet, you have already reduced your ingestion of pesticides by a huge amount. Keep eating those fresh vegetables and fruits, whether organic or not! Molly Horn
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beasadeghi Joined: 09/09/10 Posts: 16	RE: Apples - organic vs. regular Posted Thursday, September 23, 2010 at 7:31 PM mollyhorn wrote: revolutionoftheheart wrote: If I am buying regular supermarket apples (can't really afford organic product) do I need to worry about wax and the pesticides contained within? I love apples and make an easy baked sugar-free apple raisin cinnamon walnut compote ... but I take the skins off first because of the concerns noted above, and also because they tend to get papery to ingest. When I juice I don't even bother to take the skins off. Yeah, I'm a bit lazy. Do I need to buy a fruit pre-wash and scrub the apples first? Two things to consider: 1.) Yes, apples are on the dirty dozen list. However, they are still a LOT better than eating meat and dairy, which contain astronomical amounts of pesticides, far more than any produce item contains. If you wash your apples with clean water, you'll remove a good amount of the pesticides. (About 50%, from waxed items, much more from non-waxed.) 2.) Most of the fiber in fruit is in the skin. If you remove the skin, such as in your dessert or drinking apple juice, you're removing the fiber, which is a large part of why fruit and vegetables are beneficial to us in the first place. Skin-on is a far better choice! I go by the rule of cost: If I can afford the organic version, then I buy it. But I'm on a limited budget, and often the organic versions are prohibitively expensive. So, I remember this: Eating a conventional apple is still a lot better than eating no apple at all. By cutting meat and dairy out of your diet, you have already reduced your ingestion of pesticides by a huge amount. Keep eating those fresh vegetables and fruits, whether organic or not! I wholeheartedly agree with every point you make. Beatrice
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revolutionoftheheart Joined: 01/07/10 Location: NYC Posts: 164	RE: Apples - organic vs. regular Posted Thursday, September 23, 2010 at 10:17 PM Excellent way of thinking about it Mollyhorn, and good info. Thanks a bunch! "In their behavior toward creatures, all men are Nazis. Human beings see oppression vividly when they're the victims. Otherwise they victimize blindly and without a thought." Isaac Bashevis Singer, author, Nobel Prize 1978
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cathyb Joined: 09/13/10 Posts: 149	RE: Apples - organic vs. regular Posted Friday, October 1, 2010 at 3:35 PM Since apples are on the dirty dozen and I have young kids who eat A LOT of apples (sometimes 2-3 a day for 35 and 45 lb kids!), I always buy organic now. We have a great natural food store that has great specials on OG produce. This week it is 3lb of apples for 1.99. I get most of my organic produce through a buying club. This wonderful woman runs it out of the goodness of her heart. Every other week we get an order. I get a "full share" which is a good sized box of fruits and veggies for about $25. One time I counted 19 different items. This is not a CSA. It is through Alberts Organics, which is a division of United Natural Foods (which also has a buying club). They have several locations across the country, so maybe you could round up some friends. Ours has grown a lot through word of mouth. The website is unfi.com. I live in the Millwaukee area, and our truck comes out of the MN location.
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cathyb Joined: 09/13/10 Posts: 149	RE: Apples - organic vs. regular Posted Friday, October 1, 2010 at 3:35 PM Since apples are on the dirty dozen and I have young kids who eat A LOT of apples (sometimes 2-3 a day for 35 and 45 lb kids!), I always buy organic now. We have a great natural food store that has great specials on OG produce. This week it is 3lb of apples for 1.99. I get most of my organic produce through a buying club. This wonderful woman runs it out of the goodness of her heart. Every other week we get an order. I get a "full share" which is a good sized box of fruits and veggies for about $25. One time I counted 19 different items. This is not a CSA. It is through Alberts Organics, which is a division of United Natural Foods (which also has a buying club). They have several locations across the country, so maybe you could round up some friends. Ours has grown a lot through word of mouth. The website is unfi.com. I live in the Millwaukee area, and our truck comes out of the MN location.
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