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Some consumers buy organically grown foods because they believe the products are healthier, tastier and better for the environment. But is this assessment true?
To find out, a group of U.S.-based scientists looked at strawberries. For the study, the researchers analyzed 13 plots of organic strawberries and conventional strawberries grown side by side. They found that the organic strawberries contained 10 percent more Vitamin C and antioxidants than their conventional counterparts. The organic strawberries were smaller on average than conventional berries, but each piece of organic fruit actually contained more dry matter—the meat, if you will, of the berry. The organic berries also had a longer shelf-life.
And finally, a soil analysis showed that the organic plots contained more microorganisms than conventional acreage. So, the study adds some scientific evidence to the belief that organic berries are healthier, tastier and more environmentally sound. The findings are published in the journal Public Library of Science ONE. [John Reganold, http://bit.ly/d80cbL] Researchers believe that combining organic methods with some conventional agricultural practices will provide the produce of the future.
—Molly Webster
[John Reganold is a member of Scientific American's board of advisors.]
[The above text is an exact transcript of this podcast.]
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6 Comments
Add CommentSounds like a good washing should be on the list brfore comsuming.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWas covered by Neurologica @ http://www.theness.com/neurologicablog/?p=2285
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisBasically, ``the contains more nutrient x'' in the article was rather cherry-picked, like flipping 10 coins and pointing to five of them.
I don't care what they say, organically grown anything tastes better and is healthier for you than anything grown with chemicals. Chemicals destroys the taste and nutritional value of foods. The chemical companies know this, that is why you will pay twice as much for an organically grown food, that costs you hardly nothing to grow, than you will pay for a can of chemically grown food.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this"adds some scientific evidence to the belief that organic berries are healthier, tastier and more environmentally sound"
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI don't know about tastier. A proper study might determine that. Also, the scientific world is still divided on the role of antioxidants as well as what amounts of which antioxidants should be recommended for the average consumer.
A terrific start, to be sure, but the results of one fruit does not mean the general population of fruits and vegetables benefit from "organic" production in the same way.
And the idea of blaming chemical companies because they are businesses who are in the business of making money and not due to any obervation or facts is unproductive in the efforts to put organic production in the positive spotlight.
@james: water is also a 'chemical'. Does it 'destroy the taste and nutritional value' as well? Do you have any evidence for your claims?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThe above study showed less of some nutrients and more of others, and mostly the same. Pretty much what you would get when taking 2 strains of random conventional strawberry and comparing them. Other studies about nutritional value are similar.Tastier is opinion, though it's quite easy to do a single-blind test at home.
The higher price is mostly due to being less efficient: taking more acreage, etc. With 7 billion people to feed the whole organic movement seems little more than a fad western luxury based on little more than the naturalistic fallacy.
"the organic plots contained more microorganisms than conventional acreage."
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIs that all good. Isn't e coli a microorganism?