5 Tips for Buying and Eating the Best Quality Produce
What’s your biggest question about organics?
Do you really need to buy organics?
With limited grocery dollars, limited access to organics….. Does choosing organics really make sense these days?
Can you really believe the label? That depends on the label!
Even though the label may say organic, natural, or pesticide free, it does not mean the entire product is certified as organic.
Some of the labeling used on our food products are: USDA Organic Seal, 100% Organic, Organic, “Made with” Organic Ingredients, Real Organic Project Seal, Natural, Pesticide-free
All these labels may seem confusing and you probably aren’t going to memorize them all.
Would you like more information about labeling? Look below for the details on each label.
So, how can you make the best choice and still stick to your grocery budget?
Here are the 5 best tips for buying and eating the best quality produce:
Look for the USDA Organic Seal or 100% Organic
Even better if the label has a Real Organic Project Seal (this applies to meat as well as produce)
Always look for organic for the following 16 fruits and veggies – Honey crisp apples, blueberries, celery, Bartlett pears, strawberries, green beans, kale, romaine lettuce, russet potatoes, baby fresh spinach, zucchini, cherries, nectarines, peaches, snap peas, and watermelon.
Can’t find organic? Use this washing method – mix 1 teaspoon for every 2 cups of water and soak your produce for 15 to 20 minutes. *Read below for more detail
Can’t find fresh organic produce? Check the freezer section – it can be less expensive too!
Choosing to “count” chemicals instead of calories can make a big difference in your overall health as well as what the scale may say.
We only have one body and we can use this information to help us be good stewards of the sacred space GOD gave us to live in. Information is power! Choose wisely!
More information on saving money with a fruit and veggies wash
– The alkalinity in baking soda helps to neutralize many common acidic pesticides and is generally thought to be the most effective produce wash. A 2017 study conducted by researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst showed that soaking apples in a mix of water and baking soda helps remove upwards of 80% of certain pesticides, which is far more than rinsing them with water and is even more than was removed after rinsing the fruits in bleach. Baking soda soaks, however, are generally not recommended for tender produce like berries and mushrooms.
You will only need about 1 teaspoon for every 2 cups of water. Let your produce soak for 15 to 20 minutes before removing and rinsing thoroughly. (HelloHomestead.com)
More information on labels
A Quick Guide to Seals & Claims
While the term “organic” is generally federally regulated, some others aren’t—and can be confusing. This can help you decode food labels you see.
USDA ORGANIC SEAL
This certification from the Department of Agriculture is rated Excellent overall by Consumers Report.
100% ORGANIC
This means all ingredients are certified organic. Products also carry the USDA Organic seal.
ORGANIC
At least 95 percent of ingredients are certified organic. Products also carry the USDA Organic seal.
“MADE WITH” ORGANIC INGREDIENTS
At least 70 percent of ingredients must be certified organic, but products can’t carry the USDA Organic seal or use “organic” on their main label panel. Products less than 70 percent organic can note organic items only in ingredients lists, such as “organic carrots.”
REAL ORGANIC PROJECT SEAL
A nongovernment seal, though only farms that are already USDA certified organic are eligible to pursue it. Foods must be grown in soil, not water, as USDA allows. Animals must graze in pastures.
NATURAL
Has no meaning for most foods. For meat and poultry, the USDA defines this as minimally processed with no added artificial ingredients.
PESTICIDE-FREE
Not USDA regulated, and doesn’t mean a product is organic.
NON-GMO PROJECT VERIFIED
Consumer Reports rates this seal as Excellent for ensuring very minimal GMO use or none at all. Not USDA regulated, and doesn’t mean a food is organic.
CERTIFIED HUMANE RAISED AND HANDLED
Certifies livestock were never held in small cages or given hormones. Rated Very Good by Consumer Reports. But doesn’t mean it’s organic.
NO ANTIBIOTICS (OR SIMILAR)
Alone, this means only that an animal was never given these drugs. Verification requirements are weak unless accompanied by the USDA Organic seal or USDA Processed Verified shield. Rated Poor by Consumer Reports.
CERTIFIED NATURALLY GROWN
Farmers with this peer-reviewed certification commit to many organic practices. About 8 percent of CNG farmers also carry the USDA Organic seal.
REGENERATIVE FARMING 101
A small but growing number of farmers are now earning certification (not federally regulated) for what’s called regenerative farming. This aims to stop soil erosion, which is due to climate change and practices like growing the same crops repeatedly, rendering farmland unproductive. It’s also about clean water, “land access for animals, farmworker justice, and healthy world communities,” says Mark Muller, executive director of the Regenerative Agriculture Foundation.
These farmers use a variety of methods, such as improving the soil by having livestock “massage” nutrients into the land with their hooves while grazing. Regenerative Organic Certified products also carry the USDA Organic seal. Those with Regenerative Organic Alliance or Certified Regenerative by A Greener World (AGW) seals may or may not.