Dirty Dozen - Clean 15 Question

The thin skin of the apple is one reason why it is on the Dirty Dozen list. They've found pesticides in the core, meaning it has gone all the way through the apple itself. Organic apples are not pesticide-free, however. Apples are almost impossible to grow without pesticides. Organic merely limits the types and amounts of pesticides used. Personally, I choose as few pesticides as possible, so even without being pesticide-free, organic apples are worth it.

Organic apples are often competitively-priced, especially if you buy them in season. Last fall, the organic apples at Whole Foods were cheaper than the regular apples at Publix.

Good luck.

Buy organic problem solved:)

I don't know, but my suggestion: plant an apple tree (or 2) in your yard! I had my first garden last year and it was so much fun!! This year, I've expanded it (nearly double the size) and planted 2 fruit trees! I have a smallish yard and live in an urban neighborhood... we have tons of farmers markets & etc... but I just think it's fantastic to know where *some* of my food comes from! :)

Yes, buy organic. My son loves apples too and I only buy organic or pick at a local orchard that is Integrated pest Management. It's not so easy to have an orchard. My dad tried for many years and you must apply some type of pesticide, and it takes a lot of research to understand organic farming. It is very ignorant to say things like "we did it and we are fine"...really? You yourself may be fine but there is a prevelence of autoimmune disorders not to mention a terrifying rise in neurological disorders in children. Is it because of apples? Doubtful, but every little bit helps.

One of the reasons it is on the Dirty Dozen list is the apple's thin skin. The thin skin allows the pesticides to absorb into the apple. You are safer to buy the organic apples.

I highly question the statement that organic apples have more pesticides due to needing to apply more frequently. We have a local apple orchard that is organic. They are pesticide free, as per USDA regulations for organic produce. * Actually, I need to amend my answer. They use pesticides, but they do NOT use conventional pesticides that are harmful. I am speaking of our local orchard. I can't vouch for the whole of organic apple farming.

LivTokyo is right. The whole fruit is contaminated. Stinks, huh? Thankfully, when we can't buy directly from the orchard, our grocery store carries organic apples at a reasonable price. Strawberries, however, man o' living! They are SO expensive to buy organic. Good luck!

I've eaten apples with the skins on all my life and it never hurt me.

Aileene, the word "Organic" used in the context of the quote simply means that it is a chemical that contains the element carbon. As in the phrase "organic chemistry," which is the branch of chemistry that specializes in the study of carbon and the compounds it forms.

organic does NOT mean pesticide free. In fact it often means MORE pesticides as the gardener/farmer must treat the plants/trees more often.
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yep - quick google search...top result. Thanks!

http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~lhom/organictext.html

They seem to say that organic DOES use pesticide, and they don't know how harmful that is compared to synthetic pesticides. Huh. Who knew? Oh...right, I did. :)

Here's a quote. From Berkeley.

" A recent study compared the effectiveness of a rotenone-pyrethrin mixture versus a synthetic pesticide, imidan. Rotenone and pyrethrin are two common organic pesticides; imidan is considered a "soft" synthetic pesticide (i.e., designed to have a brief lifetime after application, and other traits that minimize unwanted effects). It was found that up to 7 applications of the rotenone- pyrethrin mixture were required to obtain the level of protection provided by 2 applications of imidan.

It seems unlikely that 7 applications of rotenone and pyrethrin are really better for the environment than 2 applications of imidan, especially when rotenone is extremely toxic to fish and other aquatic life.

It should be noted, however, that we don't know for certain which system is more harmful. This is because we do not look at organic pesticides the same way that we look at conventional pesticides. We don't know how long these organic pesticides persist in the environment, or the full extent of their effects."

I think it does sink in. I read that you don't need to buy organic bananas because the skin is so thick.

No, you don't. Pesticides don't just sit on the skin. They are in the entirety of the fruit.

Aileen, you have no idea what you are talking about. Please stop spreading ridiculous information. Even a 5 second google search, looking at REAL research would show that you're "advice" is false.

Apple skin is very porous, so it would still be contaminated. Furthermore, removing the skin from an apple removes about 90% of the nutrients (my 3 yr old son also won't eat the skin, but i'm working on it).

ETA: Costco seems to have the best prices on organic apples (at least until our local orchards harvest.)