Accidental Proof

[Erika]

I just have to share this story and I think that many of you will appreciate it.

I know that all too many times that we go to the grocery store and we just grab what we can because buying organics can get very expensive so at least sometimes we get the conventional variety or fruits or veggies.

I have bought regular non organic oranges and forgot about them in my fruit draw in the fridge for months and they were still good, no rot, no mold, no nothing, still edible.

My mother has an orange tree in the back yard that is organic so I picked a HUGE bag full the last time I was there and I figured what the heck I would just put them in the draw in the fridge and they would keep forever. Not the case! I actually forgot about them like I usually do and when I opened the draw I found that a few of them were very soft and had green mold. The non organic ones from the store were still firm with thick rind and no mold.

My point here is that there has to be something that is working as a preservative. Do we want that in our bodies... NO! Does it pay to buy organic, probably so. This was an accidental experiment but it's worth mentioning none the less.

[rawstrength]

Cool experiment :) . Conventional oranges are coated in wax, so that's got to count for some of the longer shelf life.

[D'vorah]

Did you wash the orgainics before you put them in the drawer? It may not be a preservative, but simply that they were washed in the processing.

I've purchased certified orgainics from the store and seen no difference in shelf life.

Deborah

[HolyGuacamole]

Interesting.
I feel like I may have noticed similar phenomena. I will have to pay closer attention.

[Coolexplosion]

As for me, I notice my families non-organic bananas never garner any fruit flies and when they do, they are shortly followed by a pile of dead fruit flies. My organic bananas, however, do garner many fruit flies and the fruit flies stay alive until the bananas are gone.

Yay for consuming deadly pesticides!

[Bananna]

hmm, my fruit flies thrive on reg bananas...I have noticed however that my apples that are non-org like to rot from the inside out. Like it Looks like a fine, ripe perfect apple till you cut it open.

[Coolexplosion]

hmm, my fruit flies thrive on reg bananas...I have noticed however that my apples that are non-org like to rot from the inside out. Like it Looks like a fine, ripe perfect apple till you cut it open.

Maybe it's because they thrived on organic bananas for so long? Meh. That's probably because of the coating on the outside that makes them look good for longer. They can't do that to the inside though, only irradiate the whole apple.

[Bananna]

No...I don't really ever buy organic bananas...suppose I should. I don't really know why we have this difference!...maybe your fruit flies aren't 'used to pesticides' cuz you feed them some naturally perfect food that when they come into contact with reg ones they die.

...while mine are only the more pesticide resistent variety?

The apple thing really gets to me, I may have to go organic for them.

[irishserra]

I'm new to the town I'm living in and finally found an ethnic store that sells affordable organic foods.

Their pears are to die for right now. I bought a bunch of them and brought them home. Three days later, they were decomposing!! (Gotta eat those faster) My apples, however, the ones that are waxed and packaged in a bag and purchased at the all-too-consuming-vortex-that-is-Wal-Mart, were just as colorful and crisp (and untouched - even my kids recognize good taste) as ever!!:eek:

[D'vorah]

As for me, I notice my families non-organic bananas never garner any fruit flies and when they do, they are shortly followed by a pile of dead fruit flies. My organic bananas, however, do garner many fruit flies and the fruit flies stay alive until the bananas are gone.

Yay for consuming deadly pesticides!

I've had fruit flies with both kinds of bananas. Hard critters to get rid of.

Deborah

[Coolexplosion]

No...I don't really ever buy organic bananas...suppose I should. I don't really know why we have this difference!...maybe your fruit flies aren't 'used to pesticides' cuz you feed them some naturally perfect food that when they come into contact with reg ones they die.

...while mine are only the more pesticide resistent variety?

The apple thing really gets to me, I may have to go organic for them.

Well, apples are either #1 or #2 on the list of foods that have the most pesticides if not bought organic. Bananas aren't too bad either way but they are cheaper. I do recommend buying apples organically and you can skip the organic bananas. Although it seems like my non-organic bananas are toxic and yours are magically alright.

You make it sound like I feed them when they're hungry, give them water when they're thirsty, and tuck them in at night when they get sleepy. Awww. Maybe you're just giving your bananas too much TLC? Maybe that's how that become organic.


I'm new to the town I'm living in and finally found an ethnic store that sells affordable organic foods.

Their pears are to die for right now. I bought a bunch of them and brought them home. Three days later, they were decomposing!! (Gotta eat those faster) My apples, however, the ones that are waxed and packaged in a bag and purchased at the all-too-consuming-vortex-that-is-Wal-Mart, were just as colorful and crisp (and untouched - even my kids recognize good taste) as ever!!

Yep, pears are either #1 or #2 of the foods that contain the most pesticides so, buying them organically will definitely expose you to fewer toxins, congratulations! And I just have to add: NOOOO! ANYTHING BUT WALMART!

Ahem...

[Coolexplosion]

I've had fruit flies with both kinds of bananas. Hard critters to get rid of.

Deborah

Bagging them helps magnificently. And...ugh...are non-organic bananas shipped to Illinois just all poisonous? Maybe that explains all of the gangs and racial tension? Yep...it can all be traced back to the poisonous bananas...who knew?

[debilana]

I do not buy everything organic- who can afford to=)- but I read somewhere that regualr bananas are gassed with something to help them ripen. That grossed me out:eek: Bananas are cheap anyway, usually organics are under a dollar a pound at WF.

I noticed that with oranges too- if I get conventional from the store they last forever, but my organic ones in my Full Circle Farm CSA box go bad much faster. Hoever they are much juicer and darker orange, and we eat them more quickly:D

[irishserra]

I KNOOOOWWW!!!! **sheepish**

I've made a resolve to avoid the WM. But I just moved to a small town where Wal-Mart and Starbucks are THE places to shop. But I've finally gotten out and found a few ethic grocery stores that have good organic produce...and I can't wait for summer farmer's markets. Woo Hoo!!

[Coolexplosion]

I do not buy everything organic- who can afford to=)- but I read somewhere that regualr bananas are gassed with something to help them ripen. That grossed me out:eek: Bananas are cheap anyway, usually organics are under a dollar a pound at WF.

I noticed that with oranges too- if I get conventional from the store they last forever, but my organic ones in my Full Circle Farm CSA box go bad much faster. Hoever they are much juicer and darker orange, and we eat them more quickly:D

I know you're being friendly but, I am going to take your first sentence completely out of context and take it as a personal attack to which I respond: Ouch. With proper budgeting, buying everything organically is possible. Although some budgetary sacrifices are needed...like easy transportation...and vacations...and fun but we don't talk about those things.

I haven't read that but, I buy organic anyway. They're just 0.20 more per pound than non-organic where I live. And, considering how apparently poisonous non-organic bananas are where I lived, it's $0.20 per pound well spent.

Since I use mine for juicing as well as eating and I use the skin as well, organic is my only real choice since the pesticides reside in the outside of the fruit.


I KNOOOOWWW!!!! **sheepish**

I've made a resolve to avoid the WM. But I just moved to a small town where Wal-Mart and Starbucks are THE places to shop. But I've finally gotten out and found a few ethic grocery stores that have good organic produce...and I can't wait for summer farmer's markets. Woo Hoo!!

Lol.

As have I. Even if the items I need are much cheaper (I'm talking $30-$40 on some items), I refuse to shop there. Scary to think what other small shops there were in your town before Walmart forced them to close.

Congratulations on your find!

[Crazy Healer Lady]

OK That is just WEIRD, because I find my organic produce goes bad WAY less fast than non-organic bought from the grocery store, except oranges. Everything BUT oranges, actually. Even apples, if I cut them and leave them out, a non-organic goes totally brown within an hour, but my organic apple stays white and just gets a layer of hardness over its "wound."

Craziness! But very cool.

[rsloan]

I garden professionally In Southampton. Mostly perennial beds but many of my clients have veggie beds as well. I have a HUGE personal veggie bed myself. I don't use chemicals and try to use the least dangerous organics as possible. The difference in organic vs chemical is HUGE, in taste alone. The new vegetable varieties are bred to last a long time and to ship. They are not bred to taste good. It is really ashame. Many people don't even know what a good tomato taste like! I have parties in the summer and give my guests colanders and tell them to go " pick their dinners" Everyone loves this and I find everyone out there eating veggies straight off the vine. I would encourage everyone who CAN have a garden to do so. And to look for Heirloom varieties. The taste is out of this world. Brandywine tomatoes are my favorite and I could eat them alone warm from the sun for any meal.The produce prices here in the hamptons are outrageous, so I try to grow everything I can and freeze what I don't use. ( I Used to can, but I guess I wont be doing that this year....) As far as Wall mart and starbucks goes....YUCK. I try to support local businesses even if it does cost a little more. But I do understand that when money is tight, this is hard to do.