Dirty Dozen

A trip to the grocery store these days seems to require us all to have a degree in food science. Locally grown? Organic or not? High Fructose Corn Syrup? Too much sodium? Too much salt? And then, to top it all off, you have to remember to bring your bags. Why can’t I remember my bags???

When it comes to fruits and veggies, I am sure we would all like to buy organic, home grown products. But, it is sometimes hard to pay 2 or 3 times more money for those products compared to the good ol’ imports. I always try to keep in mind the “dirty dozen” when purchasing produce. These are the 12 worst fruits and veggies from the pesticide perspective. The list can vary slightly from report to report but this is the most consistent order that I can find:

1. Celery (this can contain up to 67 different pesticides alone!)
2. Peaches
3. Strawberries
4. Apples
5. Domestic Blueberries
6. Nectarines
7. Sweet Bell Peppers
8. Spinach, Kale and Collard Greens
9. Cherries
10. Potatoes
11. Imported Grapes
12. Lettuce

We are told by the government that consuming pesticides in low amounts doesn’t harm you. Some studies, however, show an association between pesticides and numerous health problems such as cancer, ADHD and nervous system disorders and say that exposure can lead to a weakened immune system. Kids developing brains can be the most vulnerable to these pesticides.

So, what to do with the dirty dozen? If you can, buy organic. And, organic or not, make sure your produce gets a good wash. Norwex has a couple of great products to help you get your produce as clean and healthy as possible: the Norwex Fresh Wash and the “back by popular demand” veggie cloth.

The Fresh Wash has been specifically formulated as a safe and effective alternative for cleaning fruit and vegetables. It can extend the shelf life of fruit and veggies by 2 to 3 times! It breaks down bio film and removes all contaminants including dirt, pesticides, and wax. The Fresh Wash is NSF-approved bio-based, all natural, and biodegradable. Oh, and it is easy to use! You just need to use 10 ml of the Fresh Wash with 2 cups of water and soak your fruit (or veggies)for 3-5 minutes. There is no rinsing required but you do want to dry it off (here’s where that veggie cloth would come in handy!). The Fresh Wash will kill the bacteria and break down the waxes and other residues but they then need to be wiped away. The bottle is 500mL so you get a lot of use out of one bottle and you can store the diluted fresh wash in the fridge for up to one week.

For those of you who have followed Norwex for a while, our veggie cloth is back by popular demand! The cloth has a rough side for scrubbing and a smooth side for polishing (produce likes to be pampered too!). It is highly effective for removing all that dirt and debris (if you are not using the wash) and is a great final step for the Fresh Wash.

So guess what the Norwex special is this week? Buy the Norwex Fresh Wash and Veggie Cloth together for just $38.00. Regular price for the Wash is $28.99 and the Veggie Cloth is $13.99. As always, please let me know if you have any questions. Down with the Dirty Dozen!