• Why Organic Produce?
• Where to buy organic food
• Preschools that Serve Organic Foods
• Organic/Vegetarian meal delivery service

I missed the discussion about why strawberries should not be given to children under the age of one. Might be allergies, but in my mind the following would also be a good reason.

I've read in books I trust that strawberries are the worst fruit/vegetable for pesticides and other (?) chemicals. Because of this, I don't feed my son strawberries unless they are certified organic. Just thought you might like to know

I agree with the comment about pesticides. I have a friend who used to work for the California Strawberry Council - she is not a health nut or anything, but she told me she would never feed her kids regular strawberries because of the amounts of pesticides on them. Unlike apples and other smooth-skinned fruit which don't absorb that much and can be washed, strawberries absorb pesticides and cannot be washed.

just want to second the idea that we should be careful feeding strawberries to our kids. They are one of the worst crops in regard to the amount of chemicals (pesticides, herbicides, fungicides) used in their production. A "joke" I've heard is that you could grind up conventionally-grown strawberries and use them as pesticides... Anyway, whether or not that's true, I only feed my son organically grown strawberries.

According to The Environmental Working Group, which reports periodically on health risks from pesticides in produce, you can cut your exposure by 50%by reducing your consumption of the 'dirty dozen'. The twelve most contaminated are: strawberries, bell peppers, (red and green), spinach, cherries, peaches, Mexican cantaloupes, celery, apples, green beans, Chilean grapes, and cucumbers. Source: 8 weeks to Optimal Health by Dr Andrew Weil, M.D.

I just wanted to add one more thing to the discussion about organic produce. I would add a few more items to the list of conventionally-grown produce that I believe it is a good idea to try to avoid. These are potatoes, carrots, and broccoli. Potatoes are usually grown in soil that is heavily fumigated to kill fungus and other diseases and pests, and carrots are known to readily absorb certain chemicals from the soil, even some pesticides that are now banned but which still remain in the soil in many farms. Be sure that potatoes and carrots come from certified organic farms, which are required to have been farmed organically for at least 3 years.

My mother is very educated in health and nutritional matters. She says that washing fruits in a weak white vinegar solution takes away pesticide residue. Can anyone address that issue? Also, thanks for the heads up on strawberries and the dirty dozen.

Re: Organic produce. No, you are not rid of pesticides after washing or peeling. There are residues right through to the core. For a really good article on this subject and the risks etc. involved, read Ms. magazine, July/August 1995 issue. The article is very well researched and is 9 pages long. Another article of interest concerning Dioxin follows it. Look under the section Health for Pesticides: Nowhere To Hide, by Martha Honey.