8. The Organic-Foods Expert Won’t Eat: Conventional Apples
Mark Kastel, a former executive for agribusiness, is codirector of the Cornucopia Institute, a farm-policy research group that supports organic foods.
The problem: If fall fruits held a “most doused in pesticides contest,” apples would win. Why?
They are individually grafted (descended from a single tree) so that each variety maintains its distinctive flavor.
As such, apples don’t develop resistance to pests and are sprayed frequently.
The industry maintains that these residues are not harmful.
But Kastel counters that it’s just common sense to minimize exposure by avoiding the most doused produce, like apples.
“Farm workers have higher rates of many cancers,” he says.
And increasing numbers of studies are starting to link a higher body burden of pesticides (from all sources) with Parkinson’s disease.
The solution: Buy organic apples or apples from a farmer that you trust!