For years as a pediatric dietitian I was told and challenged by many that organic was a trend, that organic food isn't more nutritious or better tasting. Well tell that to our children's' health,  the honeybees...tell that to our enivronment.  Although the research now is showing much promise that organically food is more nutritious, its an argument that has not fueled NHCSA.  The synthetic toxins that are sprayed on produce that is meant for human consumption..that's what drives us to provide and support an alternative.  It's considered an alternative today but we envision a future that this is the 'conventional' way to grow, once again. 

     The Food and Agriculture Organization defines a pesticide as "any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying or controlling any pest, including vectors of human or animal disease, unwanted species of plants or animals causing harm during or otherwise interfering with the production, processing, storage, transport or marketing of food, agricultural commodities, wood and wood products or animal feedstuffs, or substances which may be administered to animals for the control of insects, arachnids or other pests in or on their bodies. The term includes substances intended for use as a plant growth regulator, defoliant, desiccant or agent for thining fruit or preventing the premature fall of fruit, and substances applied to crops either before or after harvest to protect the commodity from deterioration during storage and transport."

     Pesticides usually work by poisoning pests.A systemic pesticide is actually absorbed by plants--translation--you can't wash it off or peel it off. Systemic insecticides, which poison pollen and nectar n the flowers npt only kills the target but may also kill bees and other pollinators.  . Over 95% of sprayed insecticides and herbicides contaminant species  and areas other than their original target, including other nsects , air, water and soil. Pesticides pollute our water supply, and some pesticides contribute to soil contamination.   They decrease biodiversity,  contributes to pollinator decline and destroys habitats including those for birds.  Can you see why I never felt the need to get into a discussion about whether organic vegetables are more nutritious or not? 

     As my family eats Kale chips from our CSA tonight, I'm thinking Kale might have a bit more Vitamin C but what I know for sure is what they don't have...