Today I received the Physicians Mutual newsletter. Physicians Mutual is one of America's largest health insurance providers. They are one of my providers. Here is what the newsletter said about buying organic fruits and vegetables:

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"We seem to be hearing more about organic fruits and vegetables. But organic produce tends to be more expensive. So, should you pay the extra cost?

Experts say in some cases, organic produce contains less pesticide residue, but in other cases, the differences between organic and non-organic are so minimal the additional cost isn't worth it.

Buy organic:
Apples, nectarines, peaches, pears
Cherries, grapes, raspberries, strawberries
Bell peppers, celery, potatoes, spinach.

Save money and buy non-organic:
Bananas, kiwi, mangos, papayas, pineapples
Asparagus, citrus, broccoli, cauliflower
Avocado, corn, onions, peas.

Make sure you only choose organic produce that is certified by the USDA National Organic Program. Also, don't be fooled by labels saying "free-range" or "all-natural," as those don't mean "organic." Keep in mind, organic food generally spoils faster than non-organic, so eat it right away."

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I pass this along for your information. Normally I never purchase anything organic, because of the additional price. Anyway, the Physician Mutual newsletter gives their members something to think about.

Millet (931-)

I saw on a news program that the general rule is that if you eat the peel or leaf, such as with apples, carrots, celery, spinach, then get the organic version.

From a flavor perspective, I find that organic carrots are much tastier than pesticide carrots.

Carrots are not listed. They probably are one of the minimals where Physicians Mutual contends that the additional cost might not be worth it. - Millet (930-)

I disagree with their assertion that products labled "free range" or "all natural" are to be avoided. Many small farmers or producers cannot afford the certification cost to get a "certified organic" lable, so they can only use terms like "free range" or natural. Grass fed cows are just as healty as "organic certified" feedlot cows. Free range chickens that feed on grass are even healthier. If you know your source and know that they do not use hormones and pesticides, it may be even better than "certified organic".

Personally, I could care less if something is "organic"....Synthetic fertilizers do not bother me, but I'm not crazy about the pesticides. For about 4 years now, we have actually been doing something very similar to the expert's advice mentioned in the first post: we eat organic vegetables and fruits with no peel, but just buy regular for citrus, bananas, etc with a peel.

For the stuff we eat that I grow at home, it is not technically organic because I do use some synthetic fertilizer, but not any pesticides.

I would actually think that carrots would be on the organics list since they are grown so similarly to potatoes, which are on the list.

I absolutly agree about the synthetic fertilizer. I do not often buy "organic" foods, but then I do grow most of my own veggies and I rarely use any pesticides--when I do they are ones with very low toxicity like pyrethroids.

Skeet, I don't think the article is even concerned with small farmers ,or small producers. I believe they are referring to the many national producers, such Dole and Kruger, that use the word "Natural" on many products as an advertising slogan, to make consumers believe that somehow the products are better or healthier. With the FDA the word "Natural" has no legal standing at all. Personally, with a supermarket of any size at all, I have never seen the advertising term "Free range" used, but maybe in some road side stand, or direct purchased from a farmer. - Millet (930-)

The article may not intend to apply to small farms or small producers, but it does affect them. The blueberry farm I often help over in AL actually produces berries that could be certified as "organic" but they cannot use that term without paying over $1000 for certification, a huge cost when their income is only a few thousand a yr--so they can only sell their blueberries as "natural". There are many small farms in our area that produce grass fed beef and free range eggs that do not contain hormones and are just as good or even better than "certified organic".

The article may be intended to apply to Dole, but most people do not know that and will apply it to all producers.

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I pass this along for your information. Normally I never purchase anything organic, because of the additional price. Anyway, the Physician Mutual newsletter gives their members something to think about.

Millet (931-)[/quote]

Millet I wont Eat the Monsanto's Poison GMO and RR Plants for Foods or display they killed my dad , My grandfather and i also was blessed with Agent orange . the company's Name May change but their profile will not they are Murderers from the Ground floor up

I also Grow my own food 100% now Im Missing bananas though and looking ,
Other then that how are ya ?

Millet, Skeeter

i have 1 acre 12 hens ,3 turkeys,30 quail.
i also have 12 Citrus trees ,5 apples,3 pears, 6 grapes and my garden.
i still have tons of room and a 30x50 green house for starting stuff

all my fruit trees Except the citrus are from organic seed i planted.

chickens 12 hens 1 roo pen 12x12 run for when bad weather with a clear tarp 8x12 hen house for laying and night time . and they run the whole yard during the summer no bugs . cost to feed 13 chicks 60 a month eggs all yr long buying chicks 3 months apart. Brahmas Lay in winter, Rhide island reds and Barred rocks summer and my fall chickens are austrolorps.

green house i keep praying mantids
they keep the aphids down while baby plants grow and are safe from chickens LOL ,.

for my garden area NO chickens allowed i have my Quail they eat bugs like candy to a child . they are small and have 3 times the protien of any other fowl eggs are small but easy to boil and peel whne using vinagar for 1 hr after eggs are boiled . also mine get a to be a lb in 8 weeks for butchering, they mature in 6 weeks they will start laying eggs , cost for quail 15.95 a month

Turkeys good source of food as well cost for 1 tom 2 hens 30 a month they have the yard as well. I feed only organic foods and grow only organic garden.

Now the best Part and i can hook any one on this list up.
I sell My 100% organic eggs Brown to Chocolate for 3.00 a 18 pack and Seniors for 2 bucks.

this sell makes up all the food costs for my birds and i on top of that get fertilizer and a Bug free Yard .

Aphids POOF Quails favorite food Slugs and Snails BY BY chickens Love them ill get some just to watch chicken Food Ball.

Moles and Baby rats Turkeys enjoy killing them and sometimes eat them Hince i only hatch their eggs for food

again selling my Organic turkey meat for small profit and hatching eggs as well.

so total cost after sales might be 20 bucks if that for water bill since thye include sewer here and if the hens drink it the sewer bill is not even part each hen will drink 5 gallons a month . not bad eh