Just the facts folks – The lowdown on the Dirty Dozen

Security is; a guy with an M16 rifle guarding your world, at least that’s what I grew up thinking. I was an Air Force brat which meant trusting in a government agency was inbred so the fascination with TV crime drama came to me fairly easily. I am an idealist at heart and let’s face it most cop shows, even those based on reality, offer the ideal. On TV we had Detective Sergeant Joe Friday, in all his perfection sticking to the facts and in the end solving the case. In real life it is not quite so ideal. In real life you can’t always trust government agencies. In real life you have to gather your own facts. In real life quite often you have to become a watchdog, blow some whistles and police your own world - these are the facts.

It was my original intent to write yet another article touting the benefits of sticking to the Environmental Working Groups “Dirty Dozen” list. If you are not familiar with this list, it is commonly known for providing consumers with information regarding twelve produce commodities, containing the highest number of synthetic pesticide residues. Instead what I intend to instill, as you read, is a thought that this list even with critical reviews from some sectors of agriculture; contributes to a system of checks and balances that keeps our idea of democracy true to form.

Much of the criticism the “List” and the EWG takes on are accusations of using fear mongering tactics to deter the public from consuming fresh vegetables. I read articles attempting to discredit the data and research put out by this informative group. The “Dirty Dozen” list takes direct hits from organizations that back conventional agriculture and their right to use synthetic pesticides on our food supply, no big surprise there. They are also criticized for putting out information to further their own political agenda.

However, doing my own detective work, I have not found on the EWG site any information to back these accusations. A direct statement from Ken Cook, co-founder of EWG is as follows: "We recommend that people eat healthy by eating more fruits and vegetables, whether conventional or organic,”… “But people don’t want to eat pesticides with their produce if they don’t have to. And with EWG’s guide, they don’t."

Taken directly from the EWG website: “Since many shoppers can't find or afford organic produce, they can use the Shopper's Guide to avoid those conventional fruits and vegetables found to be highest in pesticides - the Dirty Dozen - and, instead, choose items from the Clean Fifteen list.” The list in total consists of 49 products from best to worst levels of contamination. The “Clean Fifteen” list offers alternative suggestions from the fruit and vegetable category with lowers levels of pesticide contamination. http://static.foodnews.org/pdf/EWG-shoppers-guide.pdf
Now, I will ask you to take a look at the EWG chart where the pesticide residue statistics of the 49 products have been compiled. Please keep in mind the information on this chart is based on data from the USDA and FDA. http://static.foodnews.org/pdf/2010-foodnews-data.pdf   After looking at this chart I am alarmed at the number of pesticide residues that might accumulate in ones body at the end of the day. Sticking to the Dirty Dozen list alone, let’s say you have yogurt with freshly sliced peaches for breakfast, a spinach salad with celery slices and dried cherries (concentrated pesticides) for lunch, some grapes for an afternoon snack, a piece of meat with potatoes and sautéed bell peppers for dinner and some cottage cheese with fresh strawberries and blueberries for dessert. Now look at the chart and total up the accumulated of pesticides in your system by the end of the day. Oh and let’s not forget about the antibiotics, hormones and pesticides in the dairy products you consumed.

As to the accusations of furthering their own political agenda – who cares!? I for one, would be thrilled to be represented by and support an organization whose mission is as follows: http://www.ewg.org/about

1. “To protect the most vulnerable segments of the human population—children, babies, and infants in the womb—from health problems attributed to a wide array of toxic contaminants.“

2. “To replace federal policies, including government subsidies that damage the environment and natural resources, with policies that invest in conservation and sustainable development.”

Also, keep in mind the EWG, a non-profit, raises most of its own money donated by like-minded environmentally concerned philanthropists who see a real need for their work. This is the way today’s world functions and it is no different than large name companies like “Exponent: a member of Croplife America” financially backing studies to refute findings by the NIH linking Parkinson’s and pesticide contamination. These studies have proven; pesticide exposure even in minute quantities, at certain times of life can increase the chances of getting this disease.

Ultimately it seems as though the right hand doesn’t know what the left hand is doing because; “Recently, the California Department of Food and Agriculture…awarded $180,000 in federal funds to finance an agribusiness-chemical industry plan to combat its critics - Environmental Working Group and other health, consumer and organic farming advocates who have campaigned against overuse of pesticides on food crops.” Federal funds are tax dollars folks and that is a fact.   
http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2010/09/21-15

I could go on and on providing you with information to back my beliefs of what constitutes safe and healthy food. I know I have put much into my investigations and feel secure about my conclusions. However, my intent was to plant a seed of thought so you do your own research on this topic and find your own voice. Today’s technology has made it so much easier to do this detective work. No pounding the pavement needed. Most of the information necessary to protect your health and the environment can be found at your fingertips - literally. From Iphone apps, http://www.whatsonmyfood.org/iphoneapp.jsp  to printed lists you can carry with you to the grocery store. There is not much effort you have to exert to protect yourself and with your buying choices you, in turn make a stand for the protection of others as well; now that’s democracy at its finest.

It would take a lifetime for any agricultural watchdog group to provide you will all the facts regarding synthetic pesticide contamination of our food supply. However, together, as a community we can “protect and serve” to ensure the safety of our food. Rachel Carson opened our eyes to the dangers of pesticide pollution of our environment, with her book “Silent Spring” (1962) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachel_Carson;  her work “spurred a reversal in national pesticide policy—leading to a nationwide ban on DDT and other pesticides”. Ms. Carson had the courage to question the industry that told us our foods were safe to consume with residues of highly toxic environmental pollutants, on, in and around them; in the fight to prove this argument the Environmental Protection Agency was born.

The Environmental Working Group is a listed organization on the Rachel Carson.org website http://www.rachelcarson.org/?page=researchguide. They are but one out of many groups who have made it their mission to do the research, ask the right questions and watch over us much in the manner of my beloved fictional public servant; his name was “Friday” and he carried a badge. In my own way, I too will contribute to an ongoing effort of making certain agricultural agencies-meant to keep us healthy and safe - do just that very thing - my name is Dina and I carry a pen.

Our planet, our cities, ourselves

I am an eco-warrior extraordinaire!  No really, in fact, my whole family has it all together when it comes to saving our planet.  Our “best green rated”, one car for a family of five, comes fully equipped with all our credentials on the bumper.  Everybody around knows we belong to the ‘Organic-tree hugging-green-sierra-amnesty-wildlife-save the farmers federations.  We walk or bike to local events and our little garden is organically grown and rain barrel watered.  We dress to the nines, all from thrift stores, not adding to the overly consumptive supply and demand world of fashion. I personally find great pleasure in reducing-reusing and recycling and each time I take a load of plastics and such to the bin I smugly remind myself, as an eco-warrior, I am worthy of such a title for all that I do for our planet. You would think through saving the world we would be contributing to our community but in fact, we are not, we could do more…we could buy local!

We do get a great amount of satisfaction out of our conservation efforts, this contributes to feel good hormones spilling around in our systems, reducing stress and adding years to our lives.  We eat a mostly vegetarian diet supplemented with an occasional cage free-cruelty free protein and buying organic versions of all, as much as possible.  We buy all these products from one place so why would I even think of “buying local”.  The mere thought of running around from produce stand to u-pick farms, egg and dairy farms is exhausting and where would I even begin to find these farms.  Our supermarket has suitable provisions even if much of their produce has been carted across the nation, if not parts of the world. What reasons would ever be good enough for us exert ourselves further? 

Top reasons to “buy local”

1. TASTE:  Who wants to eat what does not taste good?  I find when buying local produce I get a fresh product that is crisp and flavorful. In fact, if I don’t get around to using the product right away the shelf life is usually much longer than store bought and I have not had to consider the travel time, shipping and storage conditions of the product, because of this factor I can cut down on the frequency of visits to local farms.  Also many of these farms bring their product to our farmer’s markets so I can buy “direct” while getting to walk around in fresh air, with my own basket and introduced to many other local products I would not otherwise know existed.
2. NUTRIENTS:  I am not a scientist but even I know the overall nutrient content is better in foods that have not been picked either too soon or sat for too long.  Looking for organic products is first on my list for higher quality produce and as Chris Bell of InterNatural Marketing, an organic produce marketing company with twenty-two years of experience, reminds me “small farms that grow with organic practices and have sales less than $5000.oo a year are able to use the word organic when marketing their product.”  Looking for an organic product produced locally ensures the quality of our food with the added bonus of freshness.
3. KNOW YOUR FARMER:  The beauty of buying local is getting a chance to find out how our food is grown!  A trip with the kids to get produce now becomes an educational event without even trying.  Talking to our local farmers either at the farm or the farmer’s market gives us an idea of their growing practices.  We sample product and even pick our own so we really feel a part of the process. Many farms even have social events to attend with great food, music and drink.
4. TAKING CARE OF THE LAND:  Farmers tend to be good stewards of the land, especially organic farmers.  We find out which of our local farms use sustainable and organic growing practices.  These farms tend to grow a variety of crops and grow seasonably. Eating seasonably is one way our family tries new foods and we eat more of what is meant to grow in our climate zone.
5. LOWER COSTS/COMMUNITY DOLLARS:  Not having to calculate added shipping cost for our food to be carted across the nation, adds up!  At our farmer’s market we buy value added products that are locally grown, packaged and produced so our money goes to helping our community thrive.  Also our local farms supply our local restaurants and when we go out we make certain to patronize those restaurants that buy local foods.
6. CARBON FOOTPRINT:  If food travels an average of 1500-2500 miles from farm to plate then buying local, even with its varied definition of mileage, certainly cuts our carbon footprint considerably. We make every attempt to buy as much as we can at our local farmers market and participate in farm box programs that deliver to designated areas where many others can also pick up their product.  In this way we share the mileage with the farm truck.    
7. KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES:   Yes, buying local even gives this old pastime an eco twist.  We jump at the chance to share information with our neighbors and friends about our latest finds at the farmers market or the newest restaurants that buy local produce.  Spreading the word helps the community thrive and encourages growth of local farms and markets.

Our family still makes every effort to save the planet and make the best decisions regarding our health but we have changed with the times. We learned to embrace the idea of buying local and put in at least the amount of effort we exerted on researching and buying from the best thrift stores, coffee shops, household and sporting goods; all the things we feel we need to live a comfortable life. 

It turned out getting started was easier than we thought with help from organizations like “Local Harvest” who make it easy to find local farms, farmers markets, CSA’s and the like just by entering our zip code. http://www.localharvest.org/   “Sustainable Table” offers another online tool, where we learned what seasonable produce is grown in the US, in which month and state http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/seasonalcooking/farmtotable/seasonalingredientmap .


By buying local we now directly affect the health of our planet, our cities and ourselves and who couldn’t feel good about that!