Is ORGANIC Worth the Additional Money?

Is ORGANIC Worth the Additional Money?
By Pierre Mouchette | Bits-n-Pieces

Organic produce is grown under the eye of the USDA Organic Program.  There is an ongoing controversy about organic vs. inorganic fruits and vegetables.  What exactly makes organic fruits and vegetables different is the way they are grown.  For example, only fertilizers like compost or manure can be used; chemical fertilizers are not allowed, nor are most synthetic herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides.  Thus, organic produce has a significant environmental benefit that even the industry's most steadfast critics will not deny. 

What Organic Fruit and Vegetables Are Not
While there are many benefits to buying and eating organic produce, it is not perfect.  Organic fruits and vegetables are not:

• Cheaper - You will pay slightly more for organic fruit and vegetables since they require more time and labor to bring to market.
• More nutritious - There is almost no evidence that organic produce contains more nutrients than regular produce.  
• Clean - Wash organic produce to remove dirt and bacteria, and take all standard food-handling precautions when preparing organic produce.
• Pesticide-free - Most pesticides are not permitted under the USDA National Organic Program, but pesticides like tetracycline, copper compounds, streptomycin, and dozens of others are allowed under certain circumstances.