Organic Fruits – Part 1

In 2002, an analysis by British scientists found that almost one-third of all food on sale in Great Britain was contaminated with toxic pesticides. That included fruit and vegetables. The figures are similar in other developed countries, as growers try to increase crop yield and fill supermarkets with tempting produce.

Many of these food-contaminating pesticides can damage your nervous system. Some can disrupt hormones. Some can even inhibit the development of your baby’s brain while it is still in the womb.

So there you stand in the produce section – looking at the organic fruits and wondering. Should I be buying organic fruits instead? If I’m going to peel my fruit anyway, is it a waste of money to buy organic fruits? If I can only afford organic fruits some of the time, which non-organic fruits might be safe?

Inedible Skins

On the one hand, peeling most fruits does not make them safe. Pesticide residues are often found within the fruit itself. On the other hand, there are some fruits that are clothed in skins that keep pesticides out. Peeling these will let you avoid most of the pesticide residue. You would not need to buy organic fruits in these cases. For example:

* Banana peels keep most of the pesticide away from the fruit. When you discard the peel, you discard most of the pesticide residue. If you plan to cut your banana in half, peel it first to avoid introducing pesticides into the meat of the fruit.

* Melon rinds also tend to keep pesticide away from the pulp. Watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, and similar melons should be washed well before cutting, and peeled completely before serving.

It appears that inedible skins on fruit keep pesticide residue at a minimum.
This is not always true, however. Some inedible skins are not good barriers. In these cases, you would want to spend the extra for organic fruits.

* Mandarin oranges: Virtually all of the mandarin oranges tested by the scientists contained pesticide residue. In 94 percent of these fruits, more than one pesticide had remained present. Opt for the organic fruits.

* Lemons: Virtually all lemons also contained pesticide residues. More than one pesticide was present in 90 percent of these. Choose organic fruits.

* Grapefruits: High proportions of the grapefruits tested were laden with pesticides – more than one in 44 percent of the fruits tested. Select organic fruits.

* Kiwi Fruit: This fuzzy skin is definitely non-edible. You must peel it away to get at the sweet, lime green fruit inside. It appears to be a good barrier, but multiple pesticides were found in 25 percent of the kiwi fruit tested. This, too, is a case where organic fruits are worth the extra price.

Pesticide-free Organic Fruits

Sadly, many organic fruits in the above categories have also been found to contain pesticide residue. Either the growers are not adhering to regulations, or air-borne pesticides from neighboring farms and orchards are infesting organic fruits.

You cannot be certain that your organic fruits are completely free of pesticides, but chances will be better than with non-organic fruits.