Choosing the Best Apple

I came across this GREAT site that tells you all about apples. I was shocked to see how many different kinds of apples there are in the world. I had no idea! This site breaks it down to what apple is best for snacking, baking, making apple sauce...etc.
Go check out this really neat site. The link is: http://www.recipetips.com/kitchen-tips/t--1299/all-about-apples.asp.
Let me know what you think. Did you know there were so many types of apples? Crazy!

The New Dirty Dozen - TOP 12 foods to find ORGANIC or LOCAL

Apples


- According to the EWG report; Grocery Store Apples consistently rank near the top of the annual dirty dozen list.  More than 40 different pesticides have been detected on apples, because of the sprays farmers use to prevent fungus and insects.  You can expect to find pesticide residue in apple juice and apple sauce including baby foods. 

Celery
-Another food on the DD List is Celery.  It's a good one to remember since it doesn't fit the 3 main categories of foods with the highest pesticide residue (tree fruit, berries & leafy greens).  USDA tests have found MORE than 60 different pesticides on celery.

Cherry Tomatoes

- Tomatoes have been in for some bad press in the past few years with exposes like Tomatoland highlighting the environmental, human and culinary costs of the modern tomato.  Cherry tomatoes show up on the EWG's list of Dirty Dozen foods.  If you can't grow your own, buy from a farmer's market or local gardner.

Cucumbers
- Making the 2013 list of foods with highest pesticide residue: Cucumbers which have been laced with as many as 35 different pesticides that remain on the skin even when you are ready to use them for salad.

Grapes
- Imported grapes can have more than 30 pesticides on them.  Raisins, not surprisingly, also have high pesticide residue tests.  What about wine?

Hot Peppers
- Grow your own or shop local; most are pesticide laced.

Nectarines
- Imported, are among the most highly contaminated tree fruits.  Domestic nectarines don't test with as much, but overall 33 pesticides have been detected on nectarines.

Peaches


- Another regular on the DD list.  Peaches can be found with more than 60 different pesticides, and nearly as many in single serving packs; far fewer in canned peaches.  Again, buy organic or local or use safer alternatives like Watermelon, tangerines, oranges and grapefruit.

Potatoes
- I don't eat alot of these but can you believe more than 35 pesticides have been detected on potatoes?  For some reason, almost non on Sweet potatoes.

Strawberries
- Strawberries are always on the DD list; because big farmers spray for fungus.  Nearly 60 different pesticides have been found on strawberries, though fewer are found on frozen strawberries.

Spinach
- The leader in leafy green pesticide residue is Spinach (bummer) ... nearly 50 different pesticides.  Frozen has nearly as many; canned a few less.

Sweet Bell Peppers
- Usually makes the DD list because it boasts 50 different pesticides.  Okay, easy one to grow here in Southern Utah - do it!

Kale

- A superfood.  A hardy, naturally pest resistant plant.  Quite puzzling why it tests high for pesticide residue.  Grow your own, find a farmer's market - buy local. 

Collard Greens
- Like kale, always on the annual DD list.  Tops out at more than 45 different pesticides. 

Zucchini
- The upside to this one is every gardner you know has zucchini - don't turn them down this year.  Get them out of a friend's garden or grow your own!

Lettuce
- In that leafy green category, lettuce often makes the DD list with the most pesticides - 50 to be exact.

Blueberries

- So sad about this one ... Blueberries have more than 50 pesticides detected as residue on them.  Frozen blueberries have somewhat less.  Also beware of cranberries and cherries - they are often quite contaminated as well.  If you can't find organic berries - go with bananas.


NOTE:  The latest studies say Organic "labeled" foods on a whole carry 30% less pesticide residue than non-organic and don't show a significant difference in nutritional level.  Another reason to grow your own ... or at the very least know WHERE it's grown.  Even if farmer's are NOT organic, most smaller farmers are growing in a sustainable fashion which usually means they are not using pesticides.  Ask to find out. 

ALSO:  Many of the foods listed above are the "go-to" foods for children ... please let your families know what to watch out for.  Stay current - be careful - follow your heart!

And as always check www.ichowlocal.com ... more growers and foods being added daily. 


* www.thedailygreen.com
* www.whatsonmyfood.org
* http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/22/dirty-dozen-foods-list-2013_n_3132788.html

The Dirty Dozen - EWG's 2013 Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce

I'll have to admit - I've been living in la-la land because the terms "The Dirty Dozen" and "The Clean 15" were new to me until today!  Holy Shamolee's ... why didn't I know this?

A group called the Environmental Working Group posts an annual report detailing their findings of typical grocery store produce that tests the highest for pesticide residue and are the MOST important to buy organic, grow your own or purchase from a local pesticide free farmer.  You can lower your pesticide intake by avoiding the 12 most contaminated fruits and vegetables and choosing the least contaminated produce.



Here's some of their post: 
For the second year, we have expanded the Dirty Dozen™ with a Plus category to highlight two crops – domestically-grown summer squash and leafy greens, specifically kale and collards. These crops did not meet traditional Dirty Dozen™ criteria but were commonly contaminated with pesticides exceptionally toxic to the nervous system.

Though the Environmental Protection Agency has been restricting the uses of the most toxic pesticides, they are still detected on some foods. For example, green beans were on last year's Plus list because they were often contaminated with two highly toxic organophosphates. Those pesticides are being withdrawn from agriculture. But leafy greens still show residues of organophosphates and other risky pesticides. That's why they are on the Plus list for 2013.

Tests in 2008 found that some domestically-grown summer squash – zucchini and yellow crookneck squash -- contained residues of harmful organochlorine pesticides that were phased out of agriculture in the 1970s and 1980s but that linger on some farm fields.

Genetically modified plants, or GMOs, are not often found in the produce section of grocery stores. Field corn, nearly all of which is produced with genetically modified seeds, is used to make tortillas, chips, corn syrup, animal feed and biofuels. Because it is not sold as a fresh vegetable, it is not included in EWG's Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce. Nor is soy, another heavily GMO crop that makes its way into processed food.

The genetically modified crops likely to be found in produce aisles of American supermarkets are zucchini, Hawaiian papaya and some varieties of sweet corn. Most Hawaiian papaya is a GMO. Only a small fraction of zucchini and sweet corn are GMO. Since U.S. law does not require labeling of GMO produce, EWG advises people who want to avoid it to purchase the organically-grown versions of these items.

I found this information quite troubling.  Their website also includes information pesticides in baby foods (what?) and that we are literally poisoning ourselves and our children before they are born.  Gosh - I thought learning how to garden was just a self sufficiency thing not a POISON issue. 

TOP TEN DIRTY DOZEN (had the most) 
1.  Apples
2.  Celery
3.  Cherry Tomatoes
4.  Cucumbers
5.  Grapes
6.  Hot Peppers
7.  Nectarines - imported
8.  Peaches
9.  Potatoes
10.  Spinach
11.  Strawberries
12.  Sweet bell peppers
13.  Kale/collard greens
14.  Summer squash


THE CLEAN 15 (had the least)
1.  Asparagus
2.  Avocados
3.  Cabbage
4.  Cantalope
5.  Sweet Corn (GMO too)
6.  Eggplant
7.  Grapefruit
8.  Kiwi
9.  Mangos
10.  Mushrooms
11. Onions
12. Papaya
13.  Pineapple
14.  Sweet Peas - frozen
15.  Sweet potatoes

I would strongly encourage you to read their FAQ page.  Here's the link  http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/faq.php.  There are many questions answered here about pesticides, whether you should be worried or not, what you can do about it.  (Choose Organic - even though Organic is not pesticide free either ... they have less).

Another important note is that the testing on these products was done "as it is typically eaten" ...

What if I wash and peel my fruits and vegetables? 

The data used to create the Shopper’s Guide™ are from produce tested as it is typically eaten. This means washed and, when applicable, peeled. For example, bananas are peeled before testing, and blueberries and peaches are washed. Because all produce has been thoroughly cleaned before analysis, washing a fruit or vegetable would not change its ranking in the EWG’s Shopper’s Guide™. Remember, if you don’t wash conventional produce, the risk of ingesting pesticides is even greater than reflected by USDA test data.

EWG has not evaluated various produce washes for efficacy or potentially toxicity. However, since some plants absorb pesticides systemically, a produce wash would have limited effect. The safest choice is to use the Shopper’s Guide™ to avoid conventional versions of those fruits and vegetables with the highest pesticide residues.

So what to do?

   

You'll have to make those determinations for yourself.  I'm going to:

• Grow as much of my food as I can;
• Find local resources for the others;
• Stay away from processed foods because obviously they are using foods produced on an industrialized level;
• Eat at home because chain stores are also using these commercial farmed foods;
• Ask more questions;
• Find farmers markets;
• Eat seasonally;
• Get better at cooking;
• Help my children feed their children better than I fed them;
• Steer clear of Grocery Store/imported produce as much as possible.

If you'd like a LOCAL resource; check out www.ichowlocal.com -- a Virtual Farmer's Market right here in St. George, Utah.  New growers & resources added daily.  And as always feel free to email me anytime.  Robin

chillylizard@gmail.com

Adding Variety to Your Bulk Food Storage

 I found this insightful Question on the internet yesterday ...Pause to think of what you HAVE and what you might Add for variety to your bulk food storage.

STEP 1:
IF I HAVE: Wheat, Powdered Milk, Coconut Oil, Salt, Honey or Sugar, Water   (Cool - we've done all those in the last 6 months)
I CAN MAKE: Popped Wheat ,Steamed Wheat, Sprouted Wheat, Cooked Cracked Wheat, Tortillas

STEP 2
IF I ADD: Yeast, (or Sourdough Start), Baking Powder, Powdered Eggs, Baking Soda
I CAN MAKE THESE ADDITIONS: Custards, Puddings, Pancakes, Cookies, Waffles, Muffins, English Muffins, German Pancakes, Crepes, Egg Noodles, Pasta, Breads, Biscuits, Crackers, Mayonnaise. A lot more options huh? Keep reading.

STEP 3:
IF I ADD: Butter Buds, Tomatoes, Powdered Cheese
I CAN MAKE THESE ADDITIONS: Meatless Dinners, Meatless Casseroles, Cream Sauces These really add flavor.

STEP 4:
IF I ADD: Unflavored Gelatin, Canned Milk, Canned Fruits
I CAN MAKE THESE ADDITIONS: Jello Salads, Whipped Cream Desserts, Baby Formula, fruit dishes Mmm, now we have desserts.

STEP 5:
IF I ADD: Soup Base, Rice, Legumes (Beans), Beef Broth, Chicken Broth, Alfalfa Seeds, Sesame Seeds
I CAN MAKE THESE ADDITIONS: Hearty Dinner Soups, Chili, Rice Puddings, Refried Beans, Rice Dishes, Fresh Sprouts, Gluten This would really expand your dinner menu in an emergency.

STEP 6:
IF I ADD: Canned Meats, Dried Potatoes
I CAN MAKE THESE ADDITIONS: Dinners, Casseroles, Sandwiches. This may not sound like a lot but a meaty flavor can make all the difference.

STEP 7:
EXTRAS: Oats, Raisin, Nuts, Peanut Butter, Granola, Juices, Corn Starch, Soup Mixes, Spices & Flavorings, Lemon Powder or Juice, White Flour, Cream of Tartar, Junket Rennet Tablet - to make cheeses, Molasses, Karo Syrup, etc. These are small things that you could do without but really add variety to your diet.

What do you cook with? Add it to your food storage.  Share with me what YOUR Can't do without LIST looks like - it will help others.