dirty dozen and clean 15

(pic - my daughter and I made a happy plate for lunch today!)

I was chatting with a friend just the other day about their switch to organic/natural foods.  I sent her a link with a list of certain fruits/veggies that they should make a priority to purchase only organic, and others where they could save their money and just buy conventionally.  I realized I did not have that list posted on my blog and so I sat down to do so.  Ironically, this morning I looked at a few blogs, and Lorrie at Natural on a budget had posted about this same subject. 

 She wrote exactly what I wanted to, and probably better.  So..
Here is a link to her post.

And because it should be on this site, here are the...

Dirty dozen= produce to buy organic because it is more likely to be contaminated.
1. Celery

2. Peaches

3. Strawberries

4. Apples

5. Blueberries

6. Nectarines

7. Bell Peppers

8. Spinach

9. Kale

10. Cherries

11. Potatoes

12. Grapes (Imported)

Clean 15 = items less likely contaminated and ok to buy conventionally grown.
 
1. Onions

2. Avocados

3. Sweet Corn

4. Pineapples

5. Mangoes

6. Sweet Peas

7. Asparagus

8. Kiwis

9. Cabbage

10. Eggplant

11. Cantaloupe

12. Watermelon

13. Grapefruit

14. Sweet Potato

15. Honeydew Melon

here is the complete list listed by EWG

and another great article (not sure their list is in order) from CNN.

farmer's market face

Finally had a Saturday morning where we could get out to the Farmer's Market!  I love taking the kids and letting them pick out foods and get excited about something new. 

After washing up all the foods we purchased, I decided to play with the presentation a little (yes, I know, I have issues...). 

Here is the bounty from the Farmer's Market - total cost was $34

Now, the downside of today's trip...
We are still very new to organic foods, and I am still learning quite a bit.  Unfortunately that means I have to learn through trial and error at times. 

I learned some lessons today.

 Just because it is at the local farmer's market, does not mean it is local OR organically grown.  You (I) have to ask!  It makes me feel kind like a pain in the butt customer, but from now on I will be asking where the food comes from and how it is grown.  There are two farms at the market I typically buy from because they say they use organic practices... BUT that does not mean that all the produce they sell is from their farm!  They want to have variety for their customers and so they will bring in produce from other places sometimes.

UGH, that make it harder to know what you are buying, and VERY frustrating!

 

I came home today with plums, one had a sticker on it... from california.  AND the number started with a 4.  A sign that it is a conventionally grown plum. Well... I could have run up to the local grocery store and bought it there on sale if that is what I was looking to buy today!

• If the number on the fruit begins with a 3, or 4, then the item is Non-Organic/ conventionally grown. 
• If the number on the fruit begins with 8, then the item is Genetically Modified. 
• If the number on the fruit begins with a 9, then the item is Organic!

I also need to learn what is in season for my area.  I am a 'transplant Texan' and am still learning to live in a different part of the country.

•