A groundbreaking peer-reviewed study published today in the journal Environmental Research found that switching to an organic diet significantly reduced the levels of synthetic pesticides found in all participants – after less than one week. On average, the pesticide and pesticide metabolite levels detected dropped by 60.5% after just six days of eating an all-organic diet. The study, Organic Diet […]
The Bitter Price of Tropical Fruits
Sweet, healthy and delicious, and inexpensive to boot, pineapples are one of the world’s most desired fruits. On average, the world eats more than 26,000 tons of pineapples each year. But hidden beneath their low-price tag lies an industry riddled with heavy pesticide use, water pollution, deforestation and the exploitation of farmworkers, who are forced […]
Japanese persimmons exported to the United States for the first time
After lifting the ban on the export of persimmons from Japan to the United States from October of last year, Fukuoka prefecture is now working on the production of persimmons for the US. The exportation of the Fukuoka-produced Taishu variety of persimmons to the US began in October. People were able to taste the sweet, […]
GMO Apples That Don’t Brown Hit US Stores
The first genetically modified apples to be sold in the U.S. will debut in select Midwestern stores. The fruit has been genetically modified such that its flesh won’t turn brown when exposed to air. A small amount of Arctic brand sliced and packaged Golden Delicious, produced by Okanagan Specialty Fruits of Summerland, B.C., will be […]
Harvesting Liberty: A Short Film About Growing Hemp In The USA
Harvesting Liberty is a short film that documents visionaries Michael Lewis (of Growing Warriors) and Rebecca Burgess (of Fibershed) as they collaborate to reintroduce industrial hemp to the American landscape. Growing Warriors is a Kentucky-based farming program designed to train, assist, and equip military veterans with the skills, tools and supplies needed to grow organic […]
Organic Strawberry Farms Produce More Flavorful And Nutritious Berries
Side-by-side comparisons of organic and conventional strawberry farms and their fruit found the organic farms produced more flavorful and nutritious berries while leaving the soil healthier and more genetically diverse. “Our findings have global implications and advance what we know about the sustainability benefits of organic farming systems,” said John Reganold, Washington State University Regents […]
Genetically Engineered Apple Nicknamed “Botox Apple”
Two varieties of genetically modified apples, which do not bruise or brown, may hit the market by the end of 2013, according to a report by ANI News. If approved, the Arctic Granny Smith and Arctic Golden Delicious apples will be the second genetically modified (GMO) fruits allowed in the United States after the Hawaiian papaya. Okanagan Specialty Fruits […]
Fruit Flies Fed Organic Diets Are Healthier Than Flies Fed Nonorganic Diets, Study Finds
Fruit flies raised on diets based on organic foods performed better on a variety of health tests, including fertility and longevity. A new study looking at the potential health benefits of organic versus non-organic food found that fruit flies fed an organic diet recorded better health outcomes than flies fed a nonorganic diet. The study […]
Health Hazards Associated With All-Fruit Diet
Organic or not, man cannot live on fruit alone. Fruits are loaded with healthy antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, which is why eating them in moderation is fine for healthy people. However, health hazards are associated with an all-fruit diet. Fructose, a simple sugar found in fruit, is preferentially metabolized to fat in your liver, and […]
Fruits and Vegetables May Protect the Kidneys
Adding fruits and vegetables to the diet may help protect the kidneys of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) with too much acid build-up, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN). Western diets that are based in animal and grain products are highly acidic […]