To Buy or Not to Buy Organic: What You Need to Know to Choose the Healthiest, Safest, Most Earth-Friendly Food

by Cindy Burke

Food journalist and former professional chef Cindy Burke writes in the introduction to this book: "Organic food can be so expensive and difficult to find that I always wondered if I was spending my money wisely. I decided to become informed, really informed, about the options — organic, conventional, local, sustainable — so that I could choose the healthiest, safest food available." To Buy or Not to Buy Organic is the result of Burke's investigations. It tells you how to choose the healthiest, safest, most earth-friendly food, as you make your way through the supermarket, your local farmer's market, or your natural foods store. Highlights include: Making sense of the choices presented by organic, local, sustainable, minimally treated, grass-fed and cage-free foods Reducing your exposure to pesticides Save money by knowing the foods you want to eat only if they're organic and the foods that are pesticide-free even when they are nonorganic Protecting your child's health from pesticides An at-a-glance shopper's guide to more than 100 foods

Genres: Nonfiction, Health, Cooking, Food

240 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2007

Reviews

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are confused by all this talk on vegetables, this book explains it all. It's "Vegetables for Dummies." This book explains the difference between organic, local, and mass-marketed, and which ones will poison you. This book also includes a shopping list as to which foods you must buy organic or local (for a higher cost, but are healthy) and which you can buy normally (for a lower cost, but still won't die).

Example: Things to always buy local or organic:
milk
eggs
chicken
strawberries
tomatoes
peppers

Things OK to buy conventional (non-organic)
tropical fruite (as long as don't eat the peel)
bananas
garlic
onions

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Total Stars = 3.5

Entertainment: +.5 Stars
Education: +1 Star
Readability: +1 star
Innovation: +.5 Stars
Inspiration: +.5 Stars

I thought Cindy did a good job on this overall. I think there were a lot of good facts about what to eat organic and what not too. Put that strawberry down if you want to live!! Lots of good resources too.

There was a lot of good information about pesticides and how we can't count on the government to protect us since they are all in bed with the chemical companies. It is kind of messed up that bannanas are safe to eat because poor countries can't afford to buy the chemicals. If we keep going the way we are maybe someday the USA willbe poor enough to not have to eat a bunch of chemicals too. Kind of a mixed blessing.

The devils advocate in me asks the question if all these chemicals are so bad how come we aren't dying off faster? Perhaps they were right when they said if it doesn't kill you it makes you stronger. Some day we will be super human chemical machines chasing bugs trying to pee on them with our pesticide ridden toxio urine. Happy days ahead :)

I did think her formula on benefits of buying local made no sense. I mean hell, I love numbers, but it still seems pretty subjective on how she picked the values for the formula.

It still seems really hard to eat local. Too bad PCC doesn't buy more local. Hopefully I can find a good CSA. Or maybe I should move to California. They could use a few more people down there.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very biased and a somewhat repetitive read, but it has convinced me to buy some things exclusively organic, try to buy local, and take advantage of all the awesome farmers markets nearby. Last week I went to the farmers market at bought the most delicious heirloom tomatoes. Seriously, if I can have the choice between a bowl of icecream or a super juicy/yummy tomato and honestly choose the tomato and relish the experience.... (this was me last thursday night)... I should go to the farmers market every week! It's also a relief to know that not all food I consume needs to be organic food. Who can really afford that anyway?

[Jeannen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was on a binge in mid-2007, reading several books about food production/consumption, and finding a certain amount of preachiness in each of them, although some more so than others. This is another somewhat preachy book – lots about the evils of non-organic food cultivation. For me, this is a bit of preaching to the converted – but I suspect the intended audience for this book is people who don’t understand what the fuss is about, not people who are already aware of the issues around non-organic cultivation

What I do like in this book is the information on which foods carry more pesticides, etc., the table when raised non-organically, and which foods one should always get from an organic source.

[Charity · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book in my quest to become as food conscious as possible. Making smart, healthy, safe decisions about food products has become a huge cornerstone of my life, so I thought this book would be of great assistance. Since I've been reading up so much on the subject of buying and eating "beyond organic" (local, sustainable, organic), I didn't get a whole lot of new information from this book. However, I think this would be a great guide for anyone who is just testing the waters with regards to buying local and organic foods. In fact, there is a very cool guide in the back to make your food selection choices that much easier.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A easily understood primer on industrial agriculture, corporate organics, and the local food/sustainability movement. I didn't really understand the forces behind the local food movement before reading this book, and now I get that it's not just about the environment. Organic shouldn't always trump local, and I can totally see why small farmers have moved away from organic certification -- even if they haven't changed their practices. Burke goes beyond the dirty dozen and suggests what she thinks should be bought organic, local, and/or conventional. Her shopping guide will be going with me to the grocery store and farmers market.

[Dawna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This answered so many questions in my quest to learn about organic products. It seemed like an unbiased view on the "organic industry" and she made many suggestions that I am trying to implement. She gives lists of (in her opinion) foods that are important to buy organic, as well as lists of what doesn't really matter all that much, and WHY. She reminds you to buy things locally as much as possible. The only thing I didn't love about the (quite short) book was that her information was sometimes redundant.

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very useful and accessible information. Even includes a handy easy-to-use shopping guide with lists of the most important fruits & veggies to buy pesticide-free.
A lot of information about the negatives of pesticides and non-organic food and why to avoid it.
Could have used more info on the additional health benefits and positives of organics, heirloom vegetables, pasture-fed eggs, raw milk, etc.
Great for anyone who wants to know about the differences between industrial agriculture, corporate organics, and local sustainable foods.

[Valerie Sherman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had a lot of good information about whether to buy vegetables and fruits that are organic, not organic, or local. I already do a lot of the things she suggests - CSAs, farmers' markets, buying in season, etc. But I think this book was very helpful in convincing me why pesticides are really prevalent and dangerous, and that the government really does not adequately regulate large farms as to pesticide use.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I found the first part of the book to be a bit repetitive and had some qualms about her claims regarding testing for pesticide toxicity, I found this to be a very well-rounded book. It gives an introduction to different terms, the history of the organic food market, and the reasons why some foods are best to be bought organic and some are not. Definitely accessible to beginners and I took away a good chunk of knowledge for the time I put into reading the book.

[Amelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is such a quick and easy read about the dangers of eating some conventional foods. It lets you know what you should eat organic or locally grown and what you can eat conventionally grown. I am most definitely going organic. Everyone should also know what the dirty dozen is! You'll be grossed out at what you've been eating!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone still learning about organic foods, I thought Burke writes a great "manual" on the subject, yet it was really interesting and I read the entire book in one sitting. It has made me more aware about my food purchases and we have made some changes in our home. It's a good "starter-organic" book for newbies. :)

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am sorry to say that I had to return this book to the library and couldn't renew it since someone else had a hold on the book. I found the information very informative and it has influenced the way I buy food; especially for my children.

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a bit OCD when it comes to buying produce. I will only buy organic. I read this book and have loaded Burke's list of produce onto my iPhone so that I know what I should buy organic and what I can just buy local. I have referred to it many times in the last year.

[Anastasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a lot more informative than I expected. Other than not doing a thorough job on the issue of fish and seafood, I think the author has written an important guide for making good food choices.

[Trisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compact, easy to understand, filled with startling information. Although not a pocket sized book, it was one I wish that I could carry around with me at all times for reference and most certainly a book that I will re read regularly to refresh.

[Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Explains the difference between organic, local and sustainable farming. It also lists what products are worth paying the organic price for and which are not.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The best part about this book is the chart at the back -- you can look up a type of fruit or vegetable and find out if it's worth spending the money on the organic kind.

[Caroline Fontenot · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty much worth it just to get the list of foods you should and should not buy organic.

[cayenne&carob · Rating 5 out of 5]

great resource

[Erika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic! You don't have to buy everything organic (so you don't go broke).

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book-- well written and informative. It toned down the intensity I feel sometimes from the pushing of organice prducts, and really opened my eyes.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little scary, but good info. Loved the addition of the "Clean 15"

[Angela Higgins Muncie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic resource - Buying copy to keep on hand.

[Lanette · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick, informative read.

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really good guide to what to buy organic and why. Lots of useful resources and love the amount of info. given. Appreciated the research that was done by the author.

[Siona · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great resource. The "Dirty Dozen" is a popular term from this book.

[andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

very helpful in identifying what is most important to buy organic.

[Kelly Laverty · Rating 2 out of 5]

wasn't based upon much research other than internet searching....