By Barbara Kessler
Green Right Now
Organic apples from Earthbound Farms
When these apples first appeared in my grocery cart, I had to double check to see if they were organic. They were. They are. They’re Earthbound Farms organic apples, and while this is not a commercial for Earthbound, I have to say, I had a “Thank God” moment over them. Could these apples look any more enticing? They taste great too and the price was decent. We got them at Costco, where we go for a select list of things that we like to get a discount on (shout out to Amy’s, whose burritos save my children from starvation weekly).
I know some will gasp over the Costco purchase — I also aggressively shop at Farmer’s Markets to use as much local food as I can. But leaving aside the discussion about where to shop, my point here is more basic: Organic, it’s gorgeous and full of nutrients. I suspect the people who pushing that concept are not lying. Sometimes, yes, organic fruits and produce look a little less than picture-perfect, because forgoing the chemicals strips them of some of the cosmetic benefits of conventional growing. I’ve rarely seen them lag in taste, which is a clue to their superior nutrient value, wouldn’t you think?
As these apples demonstrate, growing in earth that’s cultivated the way the ground should be cultivated, without pesticides, can be enriching. And that does meet the common sense test. What works to nurture nature produces a fruit that’s more nourishing. I don’t have proof of that with these particular fruits, I didn’t test them, I ate them. But more scientific studies are emerging all the time now that show organic foods don’t just represent the absence of harmful chemicals in the environment — which seems to remain such an abstraction to many people — but the addition of nutrients to foods.
If you want to know more about the improved nutritional profile of organic foods, see this survey of many studies by The Organic Center. It will take you to a Power Point explaining that studies of matched pairs of produce — with one grown chemically and the other grown organically — found that in the majority of cases, the organically grown fruit or vegetable was higher in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals.
I know, this sounds like a commercial for organic produce. I do support organics. As for Earthbound Farms, I can’t say I know that much about them. They’re having an Earth Day celebration and giving away some shopping totes, and donating 25 cents to charity for every Heirloom Lettuce package sold in April (see their Facebook page). And they strongly support sustainable farming practices, it’s their raison d’être. Are they hardcore anti-till type farmers? I don’t know. I just know what I see and taste, and these apples taste great — just like those organic greens and peaches I buy at Farmer’s Markets, and the tomatoes I grow (well most of the tomatoes I grow – : )) here at home.
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