Importance of organic

[ShantiDass]

I'm on my 3rd day of being raw and I have ordered Alissa's book and am awaiting it's arrival.

I have a question about organic fruits and veggies. I have only purchased organic so far but I am really craving cucumber and the store I go to does not have organic cucumber. Is it OK to eat fruits and veggies that are not organic?

I remember reading a few years ago about certain ones that you should only eat that are organic as they held the chemicals more than other ones. I can't remember what was listed and don't know if it was true or not.

[vgloveforlife]

I've heard cucumbers are on the most contaminated list...other ones include:

Apples
Bell peppers
Celery
Cherries
Imported grapes
Nectarines
Peaches
Pears
Potatoes
Red Raspberries
Spinach
Strawberries

I think it's also important to buy organic for all the ones that you don't peel like leafy greens.

[ryana]

if your body wants a cucumber I'd eat it even if it is contaminated with pesticides. But if you'r not really in the mood I'd try to stick to organic food. For exmample lately i'm been craving cherries like crazy and they are impossable to get organic and if i do their outragious. so i listen to my body and give it whats it's asking for.

[fruit]

Are locally grown grapes okay to eat non organic?
or are the just as bad as imported

[ryana]

they are better than imported conventual grapes but i'm not sure what to think about them vs imported organic grapes

[Spectatrix]

Cucumbers are #18 on a list of 47 types of produce (#1 being most contaminated). Domestic grapes are less contaminated (#21) than imported (#12).

http://www.foodnews.org/fullresults.php

[gatorgrrl]

First and foremost raw. Organic is great but if its not availble...well....eat what you got. I am raising my own garden so I don't have to deal with this issue as much.

[Spectatrix]

First and foremost raw. Organic is great but if its not availble...well....eat what you got. I am raising my own garden so I don't have to deal with this issue as much.
Definitely. If you can't afford/find organic, don't sweat it! Wash your fruits and veggies well, but don't worry too much about eating conventional produce. If you have the room/time/inclination, try growing some of your own food.

[ShantiDass]

Thanks for the responses and info. I am having no problem staying raw but organic has been issue. I went to the store this morning and bought some watermelon that is not organic. It's my first non-organic food and I had it for breakfast and I didn't die!

[Drawn]

I love cucumbers too and sometimes it's just impossible to find organic ones so I will buy the non-organic ones and peel them. It's still better to eat organic, but sometimes that's just not possible and I would rather eat raw and not feel deprived.

[cornvalley]

'Contamination' is one of those words better left for describing things way beyond pesticide residues. Residues vary so greatly, even within the same field...then after handling, shipment...bringing it home to be washed. Don't get too overwrought with worry about domestic (US) produce. Strict regulations keep pesticide amounts very low.
On the other hand, organic is more and more become mainstream and supporting the movement towards it is important. Many vendors at my local Farmer Market don't even know what Organic refers to, thinking that it means NO PESTICIDES. It's about soil building and crop rotation with fields laying fallow occasionally. (no one I know does this).
Anyway, eat your foods and be glad there's someone around growing it for you. :D

[jenna rose]

I think strawberries are on the very top of that list.

Organic is important and you should buy organic when you're able to. But it's not one of those "organic raw or bust" kind of things. I hardly am able to get anything organic around here so I just make sure to wash the stuff as good as possible.

[vgloveforlife]

Wow I guess I should be glad where I live! I can get so much organic here and it's all at a discount grocery store. Today I spent under $35 on a weeks worth of food and it was all organic.
I also found 2 lbs of "Really Raw honey" for $8!

Not trying to rub it in..really...I'm just not going to take it for granted, that's for sure!

[ShantiDass]

Wow. I am jealous of how little money you spend for a week. I am very new to this so I am not sure what to buy yet but I know I have spent WAY more than that. And, I've never seen a discount grocery store that carries enough organic to make a difference. I went to one and the only thing organic was the parsley.

[RawFoodieMom]

Wow I guess I should be glad where I live! I can get so much organic here and it's all at a discount grocery store. Today I spent under $35 on a weeks worth of food and it was all organic.

Wow, you are truly blessed to live in such an area that appreciates the benefits of organic produce.

My discount grocery store carries organic baby carrots... that's it. :( Oh well, I'm hoping with time they will start to carry more.