Not if it is conventionally grown!
just an apple? think again.
In a world where there is sometimes a fine line between inorganic and organic products and produce, it can be hard to justify spending the extra cash on, say, the organic apples when the inorganic apples look just as shiny, maybe shinier.
Do not be deceived! Conventional apples are DRENCHED in pesticides.
A publication in which I am particularly impressed with month after month is: ”Prevention” magazine.
I was particularly impressed with an article that appeared in the November 2009 Issue, entitled: “7 Foods That Should NEVER Cross Your Lips.”
November 2009 issue of Prevention magazine
Conventionally grown apples are one of the seven forbidden fruits, if you will. The article quotes, Mark Kastel, a former executive for agribusiness and co-director of the Cornucopia Institute, a farm-policy research group that supports organic foods. Kastel refuses to purchase and eat inorganic apples explaining that he would rather spend the extra dough on the organic apple than a new electronic.
If this guy would rather place his bet on the organic fuji apple vs. the new apple ipod, well then heck! there must be something to it.
In fact, there is!
A whopping 48 different pesticides were detected by the FDA when they tested 2,500 apples between the years of 1984 and 1991. In 1993, 36 different pesticides were detected. Obviously we are moving in the right direction here but seeing that it is almost 2010, I am afraid to ask what the pesticide count still is today.
According to the Prevention article, apples are individually grafted. Which means that they are all descendants of one single Fuji apple tree. This is so each variety of apple maintains its distinctive flavor. Unfortunately, these apple transplants do not develop a natural resistance to pests and are thus sprayed frequently.
Apples are wonderful for you, but I cannot be a cheerleader for them if they are sprayed with enough pesticides to wipe out a colony of bugs.
My thought: Get them organic. Do not buy conventional. And if you are still concerned, wash and peel.
In the meantime, let’s rephrase: ”An organic apple a day, keeps the Doctor away.”
Food for thought: ”Farm workers have higher rates of many cancers.” -Kastel
