photo by Allie Clarke
photo by Allie Clarke
Organics, Anyone? photo by Allie Clarke
These days, the environmental problems our world faces and the push to “Go Green” can seem pretty pervasive. Television and magazine ads persuade every citizen to lessen
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Find out which foods are the best to buy organic, the differences in price between them and their non-organic counterparts, and make your purchasing decisions from there.
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where to find the best organic bang for your buck in Bowling Green
their carbon footprint and be conscious of the products they use. More eco-friendly options, from cleaning supplies to organic food items, are appearing on the shelves of your local grocery store. With all of this propaganda to promote a more sustainable lifestyle, you may be wondering: How does this affect me? What can I do to help the planet, and myself? For the average college student at WKU, it can be hard to answer this question. Making environmentally beneficial changes, such as going organic, can be costly and time consuming. Frankly, those two things, time and money, are the most valuable to a college aged citizen. The solution to
this problem? Smart shopping. Find out which foods are the best to buy organic, the differences in price between them and their non-organic counterparts, and make your purchasing decisions from there. Luckily enough for you, I’ve done just that. This week, I compiled a list, based on “The Daily Green’s” recommended food items that are the most beneficial in their organic forms, and visited the local Kroger on Campbell Lane in Bowling Green, Kentucky to see what was out there. a
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MILK Both milk and poultry exhibit the biggest price difference between organic and non-organic options, but purchasing the organic varieties of these two items is probably the most worthwhile. Milk also contains hormones as well as pesticide residue. We compared two one-gallon bottles of 2%. Organic: $5.99 Non-Organic: $2.99 photo by Allie Clarke
PEARS
Pears, like apples, are generously sprayed to avoid insects. Their thin, nutrient filled skins don’t successfully protect the fruit from these chemicals. Organic: $1.59 per lb. Non-Organic: $1.39 per lb. photo by Allie Clarke
CELERY This fiber and nutrient rich food doesn’t have an outer, protective skin, leaving the vegetable susceptible to pesticides, which leach into the stalks. These chemicals can’t be scrubbed away by warm water. Organic: $2.39 per package Non-organic: $2.19 per package
photo by Allie Clarke
STRAWBERRIES
Imported strawberries, offered in grocery stores when they’re out of season here in the States, are often sprayed with more chemicals because many other countries don’t have the strict regulations found in the U.S. Organic: $2.99 per package Non-Organic: $1.68 per package
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photo by Allie Clarke
POULTRY
photo by Allie Clarke
Poultry and other meats are one of the most important things to buy organic, as they commonly contain both pesticides and growth hormones. We compared two brands of boneless, skinless chicken breast. One was organic, the other was not. Organic: $8.99 Non-Organic: $6.54
SPINACH Spinach and other leafy greens are some of the foods most sprayed by pesticides. We compared two different varieties of baby spinach, one was organic and the other was not organic. Organic: $4.39 Non-Organic: $3.59
photo by Allie Clarke
APPLES These fruits are often sprayed to prevent fungi and insects. Although peeling the apple removes some of the chemicals, many nutrients found in the skin are lost during this process. Organic: $1.48 per lb. Non-Organic: $1.99 per lb. photo by Allie Clarke
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COFFEE
Coffee beans are also grown in areas of the world where pesticides are used more frequently and less responsibly. Buying coffee with the certified organic seal is the only definite way to avoid this. We compared two packages of Seattle’s Best Breakfast Blend, the organic and non-organic version. Organic: $8.19 per package Non-Organic: $6.99 per package
photo by Allie Clarke
POTATOES
Potatoes are exposed to pesticides and other chemicals in two ways, in the soil and when they’re sprayed in transit. Organic: $2.39 per bag (3 lb) Non-Organic: $2.63 per bag (5 lb)
photo by Allie Clarke
CARROTS Carrots grown conventionally can have a high amount, and diverse variety, of chemicals harmful to the body. We compared two different brands of carrots, one organic and the other not. Organic: $1.00 per package Non-Organic: 89 cents per package photo by Allie Clarke
In almost every case, except for this week’s sale on organic apples, there is at least a small increase in price when you choose to go organic. The foods listed here, however, are definitely the most important foods to buy organic because they are the most sprayed with insecticides and
other chemicals. Other items such as watermelons, avocadoes, and sweet potatoes are less affected by pesticides and aren’t that much different than their organic counterparts. For a more exhaustive list of what items to buy organic, check out “The Daily Green: the Consumer’s Guide to the Green Revolution” at http://www. thedailygreen.com. A special
thanks to the Kroger at 711 Campbell Lane in Bowling Green, Kentucky for allowing The Starving Student to feature their merchandise in this piece. Don’t forget to stay tuned for all things food related in and around Western Kentucky University. l
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