>
>  If you are concerned about pesticide
> residues and can afford to spend more, organic produce may be a choice for
> you as long as the higher cost will not lead you to cut back on eating
> fruits and vegetables. However, for better health eat generous servings of a
> large variety of veggies and fruits -- whether organic or not. 
>
> Copyright © 2008 American Institute for Cancer Research
> 1759 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009  
> 1-800-843-8114 (202-328-7744 in D.C.)   
> http://www.aicr.org/
Just in case you think organic is safe, a recent article in Science 
News  found that  E coli can transfer into plant tissues so washing will 
not remove it. This was discovered with the spinach that caused sickness 
recently. The spinach came from a field that was in transition from 
conventional to organic. So, if the fertilizer used is organic and not 
properly sterile, you can have transmission of E coli to the plant's 
tissues and impossible to remove unless you cook it.

This has resulted in some draconian rules that attempt to totally 
eliminate all possible contamination to veggies in Cal and elsewhere, 
including the elimination of hedgerows, any vegetation within a certain 
distance, deer fences, etc. all to keep any possible  E coli 
contamination from the crops.In effect, the rules remove all bee forage 
from the area and make it into a sterile wasteland. Needless to say, it 
has the native pollinators supporters and others in a uproar, for 
obvious reasons. However, it is market and safety driven. Hard to fight 
food safety.

Bill Truesdell
Bath, Maine

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