Organic vs. Conventional Produce...

I received this information in a newsletter this morning - and thought I'd share it - great information for anyone who wants numbers to back up what we already know about getting organic food. One more thing - the newsletter is from LAPTOP lunches - I put the weblink to the newsletter at the bottom of this note, check it out - great ideas for packing lunches for your kids.
Paula

How bad is conventional produce?
You may be thinking that eating conventional produce is the most practical option. How bad can these pesticides possibly be? Well, here are some statistics from one of my favorite organizations, Sustainable Table (www.sustainabletable.org):
According to the EPA, over 1 billion tons of pesticides are used in the U.S. every year to eliminate pests. These chemicals are known to damage the environment and human health.
The American Association of Poison Control Centers estimates that in 2002, 69,000 children suffered from pesticide related poisoning or exposure to poisonous pesticides.
According to the EPA, agricultural practices are responsible for 70% of all pollution in U.S. rivers and streams.
Many operations consume water at an unsustainable rate, causing aquifer depletion and ground subsidence.
Conventional produce is shipped an average of 1,500 miles before reaching consumers.
That’s right. In addition to poisoning our bodies and the soil, that poor tomato you’re eating has guzzled up an enormous amount of fossil fuels. It was probably picked when it was green in Mexico or Chile, then flown in and put on a truck where it was driven hundreds of miles before getting to your grocery store. And who knows how long it was sitting there before you put it in your cart.
How good is organic produce?
Organic farmers are committed to growing food in a natural manner – free of pesticides – and harvesting it when the time is right. Organic farming practices protect our land and water from being poisoned, which means we all have safe water to drink and nutrient-rich soil that continues to yield healthy produce for us to eat. Organic farmers are less reliant on non-renewable fossil fuels because we sell our products to local stores, at our farm stands or farmers' markets, or through Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs. When you buy organic products, you're supporting your local economy. And when you eat organic products, your taste buds will dance because the flavor is undeniably delicious.
With all of these benefits, why isn’t everyone eating organic food? Many cite the high cost, but it's important to realize that at least 30% of our crops don’t make it to you. Nature does its thing, of course, and we let it. Organic farming is laborious. We plant crops seasonally and harvest them when it’s time. That means we watch over our crops every day, harvest every day, and deliver every day. Finally, the demand for organic produce isn’t big enough to push prices down – yet.

http://www.laptoplunches.com/newsletters/2009/FebruaryNewsletter_2009.html