In our last 5 years my family has gone through a change from eating everything and anything to thinking about what we eat.    For several years we went almost 100% organic and enjoyed the new tastes from fresh and organic food.     We have thought of trying the Organic certification process in the state of Idaho but after watching others try it we don't really see the point.    We don't use chemicals on our farm!   That's the point right?    While I started to look at the benefits of organics I started to see a problem with most organics.  They travel for thousands of miles to get to me.    I had to stop and think it through.  Trucks spewing toxic emissions for thousands of miles coming from California also push chemicals into my air.   When does the carbon impact of food coming from thousands of miles overide the chemical application of local veggies?

  I have decided to provide the best veggies and fruit at the best price that is a mix of the best of organic and local.    I have a list from Environmental Working Group (www.foodnews.org</span>)  of veggies that they call the "shoppers guide to pesticides".    This is a breakdown of veggies that need to be organic based on the normal farming practices and the chemical residue left on the produce itself. 

Dirty Dozen ( buy organic)                                          Clean 15  (lowest levels of chemicals)

Peaches                                                                                Onions

Apples                                                                                  Avocado

Peppers                                                                               Sweet corn

Celery                                                                                 Pineapple

Nectarine                                                                           Mango

Strawberries                                                                     Asparagus

Cherries                                                                              Sweet peas

Kale                                                                                      Kiwi

Lettuce                                                                               Cabbage

Grapes                                                                                 Eggplant

Carrots                                                                                Papaya

Pears                                                                                    Watermelon, cantalope

                                                                                               Broccoli

                                                                                               Tomatoes

                                                                                               Sweet potatoes

The full list http://www.foodnews.org/fulllist.php

I would really like your feedback on what you think.    I hope to make this a new forum in which we can debate and talk about what we eat and the direction we are headed as a farm.  

Welome to the Hilty Farms Blog!   

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