Pesticides on organic produce - synthetic, organic or no at all?

[joosttx]

Got a question for eveyone... When you buy organic produce do you expect the produce to be completely pesticide free or just synthetic pesticide free?

Here is the background:
Synthetic pesticides (insecitides, herbicides, fungicides) are what I think most people would consider traditional pesticides. They pesticides that a man made. DTT, neonictinoids , glyphosate, paraquat are synthetic pesticides. Organic or OMRI approved pesticides (insecitides, herbicides, fungicides) are made naturally or are a whole organism. By that I mean they come from an extract of a plant or are an actual bacteria or fungi that kill pests and protect your produce. Examples of these a BT’s, neem oil, and bacillus subtilus.
Farmers can use OMRI approved /organic pesticides in organic production. Farmers CANNOT use synthetic pesticides in organic production. My feeling is most people who buy organic assume no pesticides are being used regardless if it is organic/ OMRI approved or synthetic.

[vertical_doug]

I assume most people don't even think about it that much. Organic sounds good, what's it mean? No clue. It's more expensive , must be good. I'd be more concerned with GMO and patenting of our seeds.

Kinda like how gluten free is trendy now.

Got a question for eveyone... When you buy organic produce do you expect the produce to be completely pesticide free or just synthetic pesticide free?

Here is the background:
Synthetic pesticides (insecitides, herbicides, fungicides) are what I think most people would consider traditional pesticides. They pesticides that a man made. DTT, neonictinoids , glyphosate, paraquat are synthetic pesticides. Organic or OMRI approved pesticides (insecitides, herbicides, fungicides) are made naturally or are a whole organism. By that I mean they come from an extract of a plant or are an actual bacteria or fungi that kill pests and protect your produce. Examples of these a BT’s, neem oil, and bacillus subtilus.
Farmers can use OMRI approved /organic pesticides in organic production. Farmers CANNOT use synthetic pesticides in organic production. My feeling is most people who buy organic assume no pesticides are being used regardless if it is organic/ OMRI approved or synthetic.

[christian]

I think, as Doug says, most people don't think about it.

I guess I would say - introducing ladybugs and lacewings to deal with aphids -- 100% ok. Introduction of Bacillus Thuringiensis or Baciallus Subtillus seems to be the the same -- any objection would be based solely on the Domain/Kingdom of the insecticide, which doesn't seem to hold much logical water. I wouldn't object to neem oil either.

I guess I fall on the spectrum of folks who can accept organic pesticides.

[Jonathan]

My wife and I are aware of the differences because we grow some of our own fruits and veggies. Keri prefers a strict organic regime and I'm more of a realist. You can't grow much in our soil without a lot of work like using the sun to rid the soil of nematodes, which still isn't that effective. Forget growing corn here unless you use a real pesticide, organic or not. The little corn worms will eat your corn before it gets much past your ankle. I have to spray my key lime, orange and grapefruit trees to keep the catipillars from eating the leaves and the strict organic organic stuff isn't that effective. I'm about to heart Monsanto all over the back yeard. Well no, I'm not. I will say that a heirloom tomato with its lower yield and more imperfect skin is the best tasting thing there is. A Black Krim with a slice of mozz is about darn near heaven. Sorry for the drift. I don't think a strict or pure definition of organic is possible if we are talking about growing anything with a yield that's economically sustainable.

[ron l edmiston]

true def of organic is like wasington.., depends on the talker & the listener relative to what they want to market and/or purchase.. & the states/usda..
copie doll goes to joosttx for the best answer with semi-truth..

jonathan.., enjoy your way while we last.., when the bees, apriarys and keepers gone --- we're gone..

ronnie per master gardener tammy

[vertical_doug]

if you are snowbound tomorrow, you can enjoy this. Bees on the Brink. A 4 part series from the Star Tribune in Mpls.
New threats to honeybees put U.S. food supply at risk | Star Tribune

There are some rea tidbits on what modern agriculture is doing to the landscape. A productive desert.

[Carbon_Cowboy]

I'd say that the majority of organic food consumers do not know that there are naturally occurring chemicals of any kind, especially pesticides/preservatives.

[Shinomaster]

I think awareness comes with a where a person lives sometimes. Here in Portland Oregon, everyone aspires to buy organic foods at the farmers market, primarily to keep toxic pesticides out of there bodies. It also means that the farming doesn't pollute the surrounding land and rivers. Certain soft skinned fruits like berries, peppers, grapes, and apples absorb lots of toxic pesticides and can build up in your system over time.. Anyone remember back in the 90's when there was a national news discussion about apples being toxic to children? Peel them first?
There is a large lake somewhere in the former Soviet Union that is completely dead. Polluted so badly by cotton agriculture pesticide runoff.. nothing can live in that lake. There are many reasons to buy organic if you can afford it.
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART02985...y-Organic.html

[vertical_doug]

There is a large lake somewhere in the former Soviet Union that is completely dead. Polluted so badly by cotton agriculture pesticide runoff.. nothing can live in that lake. There are many reasons to buy organic if you can afford it.
Foods You Should Always Buy Organic - Dr. Andrew Weil

Do you mean the Aral Sea? Pollution was an issue, however, the bigger issue was diverting water for cotton agriculture. The lake went from 26,000sq miles to 1,200 square miles. The see was originally 6x the size of the great salt lake, now it is 1/4.


If you google it, you can find before after pictures.

[NYCfixie]

I'm about to heart Monsanto all over the back yeard. Well no, I'm not.

Monsanto = The Devil.

Watch this:
GMO OMG

[sbornia]

Got a question for eveyone...

I just assumed it meant nothing "bad" was used without really knowing what that might be. Wife was more definitive and thought it meant no pesticides at all, synthetic or naturally occurring.

[rec head]

When I buy organic I always just hope for less bad. Less bad for me. Less bad for the environment.

I soak or wash all produce before eating it.

[bcm119]

Slightly related to this:

I've started buying the pre-washed, organic salad greens in the box. It is more expensive, and a waste of plastic boxes... but it is pre-washed, and I find I eat a lot more greens when I don't have to wash them first. I've started just grabbing a handful of baby spinach and eating it right out of the box when I open the fridge. My question is, do you trust the "triple washed" claim on the box? The worry for me would be something like e-coli, as opposed to pesticides, but you never know. To wash or not to wash?

[Shinomaster]

Slightly related to this:

I've started buying the pre-washed, organic salad greens in the box. It is more expensive, and a waste of plastic boxes... but it is pre-washed, and I find I eat a lot more greens when I don't have to wash them first. I've started just grabbing a handful of baby spinach and eating it right out of the box when I open the fridge. My question is, do you trust the "triple washed" claim on the box? The worry for me would be something like e-coli, as opposed to pesticides, but you never know. To wash or not to wash?

I believe it's washed better than you can wash it at home, but ecoli often grows up into the stems of the greens making washing it off impossible.