I've been on a kick to turn around our eating habits and start prepping healthier food for me and the kids. I clipped out that dirty dozen pesticides fruit and veggie list, and have been trying to buy pesticide free at the farmer's market and the rest organic at the store.
So, as you know, grapes are up there as far as pesticides. My chain grocery doesn't carry organic grapes or strawberries, so I decided to go to Whole Foods to pick some up. I had a few other things to get, as well.
I grabbed two bags of the grapes, not thinking twice about it. Well, my mistake. I get to the check out and those two little baggies of grapes cost me $17. I jsut about passed out.
Is going organic for dirty dozen even going to be possible? I can't afford $17 a week for grapes!!
$17 grapes. Seriously.
July 12th, 2011 at 01:18 am
July 12th, 2011 at 01:27 am 1310434052
Our city has a Whole Foods being built currently. Well, sort of. They haven't even broken ground yet. We currently shop at the cheapest store (WinCo), but - as some of you may know - they do not make it their mission to carry healthy foods. Especially produce - ironically. I don't think I've ever seen organic produce there.
Our other store of choice is the Boise Co-Op, a whole foods store. They are, unfortunately, super spendy, and do not carry everything.
I find that the best deals on organic produce is at the fruit and veggie stands. Not the ones that get all together on the weekends, but the ones that are there throughout the week. You'll find them on dirt corner lots. Probably with a taco truck nearby. Haha
July 12th, 2011 at 01:29 am 1310434176
Look for seasonal fruit...strawberries, blueberries, melons, bananas, peaches, nectarines, plums are abundant right now. If you can't buy organic, buy a fruit wash or make your own. I know people who simply soak their fruit in vinegar water for 5 minutes and rinse.
Do you have a Trader Joe's, Sprouts or Farmer's markets nearby? They have organic much cheaper than whole foods.
As they say...Whole Foods equals "whole paycheck".
July 12th, 2011 at 01:52 am 1310435576
We do have a Trader Joes. I haven't been there yet. I was just really on a quest for organic fruit my kids would eat and they love grapes, so I just wasn't thinking. Trust me, we are going to eat every last one of those things.
July 12th, 2011 at 02:20 am 1310437248
July 12th, 2011 at 03:29 am 1310441343
My issue with 'organic' is that there is no consistent standard. It is whatever the producer sets as a goal. They may not use pesticides but they can use fertilizers. Depending on the growing area, rain has various pollution values.
July 12th, 2011 at 12:36 pm 1310474183
July 12th, 2011 at 12:46 pm 1310474811
July 12th, 2011 at 01:09 pm 1310476184
July 12th, 2011 at 02:38 pm 1310481531
I think the point is that for the long run it would probably be best to focus on home grown. So it doesn't work this year, but something to focus on in the long run.
July 12th, 2011 at 05:13 pm 1310490828
Buy fruit only in season. As for the dirty dozen, only CHILEAN grapes are on the dirty dozen list. Domestically grown grapes are not as bad and aren't among the top 12. Sure, organic is always better, but as you saw, the price forces you to make compromises.
So Chilean grapes, NO, California grapes YES!
July 12th, 2011 at 05:17 pm 1310491077
July 12th, 2011 at 05:26 pm 1310491570
Final thought would be a CSA, but usually you'd have to subscribe in the spring. Unlikely that Ohio farms locally grow grapes, but you never know.
And these are all 3-season solutions. Winter is a problem for fresh. Could be that you buy massive quantities of seasonal produce, then freeze what is freezable.
July 12th, 2011 at 05:43 pm 1310492590
Anyway, yes, we are part of a csa, but this has been the worst season in a decade because we had so much flooding and rain this spring. We're just now getting our cool season veggies. I am a regular at the markets, and there hasn't been a lot as far as fruit, other than blackberries, and the kids don't really care for those unless there is sugar on them.
I admit I bought the grapes because I felt like I didn't have any better options.
July 12th, 2011 at 09:12 pm 1310505169
July 13th, 2011 at 01:30 am 1310520631
http://www.pickyourown.org/
July 15th, 2011 at 07:37 am 1310715448
July 15th, 2011 at 09:49 pm 1310766589
Jerry
July 20th, 2011 at 02:29 am 1311128945