Why wash produce?

Whether you are buying conventional produce or organic, it is important to thoroughly wash all fruit and vegetables before you prepare or consume. Conventional produce will have many chemical sprays on its outer surface – pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers are spayed multiple times, and all produce, including organic, gets handled at multiple points in the food chain and is transported in ways that may contaminate skins.

In a busy life, it pays to get into a regular habit of washing produce immediately you get home from the supermarket or grocers. If your fresh produce goes straight from your shopping bag into a sink of water (add a little vinegar for extra ‘clean’ power) and then into the fridge or cupboard, you will save time when preparing meals and can always be confident that your foods are as clean and free of contamination as possible. A light scrub, especially on hard vegetables, is advisable too.

Establish a produce-washing habit and you will immediately eliminate unnecessary chemicals in the family diet.

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Lindy Schneider is a writer and researcher with a keen interest in health, wellbeing and natural childcare. She is an advocator of a chemical-free lifestyle in the best interests of her family, the community and a sustainable world.