Organic or not

[SamuelWilson]

There are certain items that are not available to me in organic all the time. A good example is basil. Can you believe there is a health food store here that doesn't even carry organic vegetables and fruits. All their fresh produce is non-organic. They feel there is not a market for it and that people do not want to pay the extra money. They also tell me just to wash it off and it is as good as organic. However, you can not wash off what was absorbed into the plant.

In a situation, like today, where I went to a specific health food store that usually carries the organic basil, and they were out. However, I could buy non-organic from another store. Should I buy the non-organic basil or should I just do with out and find something else to fix. I want to do the right thing, but I tell you, this hunting for all organic, can be time consuming.

Is eating non-organic basil or papayas or mangos, etc. really bad for you? I mean I do wash off produce, even organic produce.

Any feedback is greatly appreciated.

[sport]

Can you buy the Vege Wash. It does help.

[Ariannah]

Organic is of course, optimal. But Gabriel Cousens, in Conscious Eating has lists of commercial produce from best to worst according to chemical residues from pesticides. When buying commercial produce, I refer to that.

[ReneeSC]

Hmmm... " just as good as organic" ?

I find that a strange statement coming from a health food store.

[Autumn]

Samuel,

Well, I tried. I searched through 12 pages of posts, but I can't find what I'm looking for. RawPriestess once posted a list of importance in selecting raw food. (Like #1 was raw, #2 was fresh, etc.) I think it was from Victoria Butenko (sp. sorry!). Hopefully RawPriestess will see this and post it again. I just can't put my finger on it at the moment. :(

There is also a list on this board that identifies the most sprayed items-those that are "ok" to buy non-organic, and those that you should avoid if non-organic.

I try to buy organic, but it is very difficult here. They just don't have it for sale or have a good selection. All we can do is our best.

[Autumn]

<<I find that a strange statement coming from a health food store.>>

Renee,
You wouldn't believe the misguided information, outright lies and B.S. I've been told by "health food" store proprietors! :rolleyes:

[RawTruth]

Samuel -- In a talk Paul Nisan gave locally a few weeks ago, he underscored an old raw guideline in saying that, optimally, our food should be raw, fresh, ripe, and organic. However, he did not prioritize those four; instead, he says that in the "real world" we sometimes have to compromise. So, he advises hitting at least two of those. If you can't get organic, at least get fresh, ripe produce. Yes, there's definitely a difference between organic and commerical, but if you have to eat commercial produce, you're still eating SOOOO much better than the vast majority of the population. And that's saying a lot.

(Just try to avoid eating non-organic berries and greens since they so easily absorb pesticides ... and, being so water-filled, if the irrigation water has industrial/pesticide run-off in it, that's what the plant is filled with, too.)

Oh ... Paul added a fifth of his own = live (as in fermented foods). But, that's off topic here -- it could be another whole thread! Oh, right, it has been ... several times! :eek:

[SamuelWilson]

Ok then fellow raw foodist, I need someone to make me feel good about buying basil that is not organic, will someone say "Samuel, it is ok to buy basil that is not organic. You are doing the right thing."

I wanted to add that I am at my Tallahassee residence currently. When in Miami, I can easily find what I need. Well, not easily, I sometimes have to do a bit of driving, but it is out there for the taking.

[Jo-anne]

Apples..........please only purchase organic, the non-organic apples have been sprayed sooo much, I know all this I worked for a huge grocery chain that revealed all the harmful effects these apples contain, but the most sickening thing is they witheld it from the public, I wish I had photocopied it and exposed them for what they are! I am so damn ANGRY at them because these apples are given freely to kids by their unknowing parents thinking they are doing something right for their child whilst what they are really doing is placing their child/children's health in major jeopardy!

[SamuelWilson]

Jo-anne, thanks for the information. Apples are not difficult to find in organic. Seems to be a never ending supply of organic apples. It is just basil for me. Well papayas and mangos are another difficult one. I have yet to find organic papayas here, or mangos for that matter. However, I am told these are not as crucial, but honestly, I don't know what to believe anymore. The simplest thing to do is eat only organic, however, finding organic in everything is difficult sometimes. I think I let this stress me out too much :(

[Jo-anne]

Samuel, have you ever thought about growing your own basil? I mean its easy said but I haven't done it yet myself, but am seriously thinking about growing basil, mint and parsely (these are the main herbs I use) I usually buy organic as much as I can and have them delivered once a week. There are several times when I run out of these herbs especially basil and mint that I end up purchasing them from the local fruit market.

I really don't think it mattes that much Samuel, even if everything you ate was not organic it still would be better than eating cooked foods.

[RawTruth]

Samuel - you are fine buying non-organic basil especially since it's only occasionally.

How's that? :D

[SamuelWilson]

RawTruth, I will accept that. That is good enough. At least I have someone to blame now if I suffer from pesticide poisoning. I can always say it was you who told me it was ok :)

[Raw_Medic]

Samuel, if it makes you feel better I sometimes have to use non-organic basil as well. And to expand on what rawtruth was saying, I just attended a talk by Paul Nison Sunday and he said the same thing about we should have at least 2-3 out of 4 of either raw, ripe, fresh, organic. It made me feel good about not always eating organic. I try to eat as much organic as I can feesibly afford, and what's available.

But yes, I think you're gonna be fine! :-)