Orange Juice

[gmq]

Due to cost control, we can't buy everything organic. What's the consensus on the cleanliness/health of orange juice (tropicana/florida's natural/simply orange/etc.)? Obviously I buy a lot of oranges, but there are several people here to supply for, so OJ, if reasonably clean, would be a nice option.

[Humanist]

I have read that commercial orange juices include the whole orange, including the peel and the pesticides on the peel. If cost is an issue, why not get more nutritional value for your money by eating oranges instead of juicing them?

[Revvell]

We get our oranges from the grower at $3-$5 a plus/minus 35# box. Is that possible where you are?

As far a commercial juice goes, I've no comment other than, if it's cooked (if it's in a can, carton, bottle it probably has been heated) it's dead meaning useless, no?

I'd go more with whatever fruit I could find in season at the best prices I could find. Whole raw fruit is very sustaining and, it doesn't take as much to be filling as does juice.

[SevenKindsOfCookie]

Commercial packaged juice is a waste of money in my opinion. That money is much better spent on fresh fruit.

[snoops]

I have heard that Tropicana uses year old sludge with "orange flavoring" to freshen it up. Look on Youtube - I think there are some videos discussing it. Buy a juicer - real fresh squeezed oj is THE best.

[EZ rider]

I've got a small citrus juicer that was inexpensive and does a good job of making FRESH juice. I just cut the orange in half and push it against the squeezer and drink the fresh squeezed juice. No pasteurization, or factory processing involved and its absolutely fresh. :)

[divajess]

I have a non-raw OJ crazy family, and I still buy the store brand of OJ, mostly for my husband. I bought a cheap citrus juicer (12 bucks, I think?) and I try to make fresh-squeezed for my girls. They end up being satisfied with less, probably because of all the raw, fresh nutrients, and because it feels more "special".

Whenever we have non-organic stuff of any kind, I try and focus on all of the good stuff we ARE having, and I reinforce my intention to eventually be all organic for all of us, even if it's not today.

[gmq]

Thanks guys.

And how about extra virgin olive oil, how important is it to go organic with it?

[annavon]

Here are a couple of links for the best/worst foods to purchase non-organic:

http://ezinearticles.com/?To-Buy-Or-Not-to-Buy-Organic&id=1453999

http://www.grocerycouponguide.com/articles/20-fruits-and-vegetables-to-buy-organic/

http://www.ecomall.com/greenshopping/eorganic.htm

Hope this helps.

[SevenKindsOfCookie]

I try to take the growers situation into consideration as well.
For example, even though conventional bananas are safe to eat it certainly isn't safe for the workers growing them. To me it's worth the extra money to ensure that the people producing my food can do so in a non toxic environment.