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Expert Q&A

	By Allison Gamble Nutritionist/Diet Technician Highland Park Hospital, Illinois

Is organic produce really that much healthier? Is it worth the extra money?

Per the American Dietetic Association's Complete Food and Nutrition Guide, organically grown foods are generally grown using little or no synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. By law, organic foods cannot contain nitrates, nitrites or sulfites.

The farming methods used with organic foods involve insect and crop rotation, use of natural chemicals such as sulfur, nicotine and copper. Manure and compost are some of the fertilizers used on crops. Organic farming takes longer, due to the more hands-on approach to farming versus the conventional farming methods.

Organic farming doesn't produce as much compared with conventional farms. This means higher prices for the hands-on farming and the lower amount of volume produced.

The ADA states there are no conclusive studies showing organically grown foods are healthier than non-organically grown foods. The ADA even states taste difference is not that great, either. What makes a fruit or vegetable a quality product is the time it is harvested, the quality of the growing conditions and the variety of foods. Studies are not conclusive in showing organically grown foods are safer than non-organically grown foods. More importantly, the nutritional value of both is the same!

Aesthetically, organically grown foods are more appealing. Colors are deeper and fruits and vegetables simply look better. The fact that the plants had more "hands-on" labor is appealing, too. However, it does not seem necessary to spend the extra cash on the foods since there is no difference in nutritional value. Personally, I think if you are having friends over and want beautiful fruits and vegetables, then the extra cost is worth it. I will say this: if you have a farmer's market nearby, shop there! I have found there is a huge difference in flavor of the fruits and vegetables. This is probably due to the time the foods were picked, since much of the flavor is probably lost when fruits and vegetables are picked too soon.

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