by Glenda Bissex, Editor

Hold on a minute. 

13 years ago I wrote in the Co-op Newsletter about the high level of pesticides found in conventionally grown strawberries. Unfortunately, that hasn’t changed (see research from EWG.org and the USDA).  And the chemicals cannot just be washed off. 

The good news is that we have in our region many small growers, both organic and non-organic, whose berries are safer to eat, not to mention more flavorful. This is true for blueberries as well as strawberries. Still, it’s hard to wait.

While waiting for those first luscious, local berries, remember farm workers breathing in pollutants, beneficial insects dying (without whom we wouldn’t even have berries!) and the soil and water being poisoned. 

It’s easy to be an unknowing, unaware consumer. We try to spread good news about healthful foods you can buy at your Co-op.

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