Conference turris::cooks

    
    THERE'S A SMALL STAND IN BOLTON ON 117. EVERYTHING IS ORGANICALLY
    GROWN. I CAN'T THINK OF THE NAME OFF HAND, BUT IT'S AFTER DATA GERNERAL
    ON YOUR RIGHT. THERE'S LOTS OF FLOWERS/PUMPKINS IN FRONT. THEY HAVE THE
    BEST EGG-ROLLS IN THERE. ALSO, THERE'S TRACTOR RIDES TO PICK YOUR OWN
    PUMPKINS TOO.

    IT'S CALLED "APPLEFIELD FARMS"! GREAT FARM STAND!

    There is a full fledge store - "The Living Earth" at the corner of Park
    Ave and Chandlar streets in Worcester.
    
    They have an excellent selection of organically grown, local fruits and
    vegtables and they have signs for each item stating no-pesticides have
    been used either.
    
    There is also a very large selection of international cheeses and
    prepared foods that us whole grains.  Also a pretty good selection of
    ingredients for oriental cooking.
    
    Other things in the store:
    	cookbooks
    	vitamins
    	bulk cooking ingredients
    	fresh coffee beans
    	health and beauty aids (all natural and no animal testing)
    	and muchmore.
    
    all disclaimers apply - I'm just a happy customer.
    
    Joyce

    Excuse my ignorance, but why are you so concerned about this?
    What is the risk of eating vegetables grown with pesticides?
    Organically-grown vegetables are also exposed to our environment.
    There are pollutants in the earth, air and water. 
    Is this "all-natural" stuff really just sensationalism?????
    In reality, everything is all-natural! (If you go back far enough!)
    
    Any info is appreciated!!!
    Laura

    Re: .4
    
    One day, about a year ago, a picked up a bushel of one of my favorite
    fruits, the apple. Before I even came home I decided to sample some of
    my pickings in the car. About 5-6 bites into one of the Red Delicious
    apples I started developing, what I was to find out later, a allergic
    reaction to it. Specifically my mouth became inflammed and stomach
    felt, well, kind of yucky, for a lack of a better phrase. I didn't
    think too much of it and thought I had somehow gotten a "rotten apple".
    Wasn't true. I tried eating apples over the next few weeks from
    different sources and different varieties and found the same problem.
    
    Recently I went to India and tried eating the apples over there and
    found out the problem had disappeared! Came back here ansd tried it
    again..and.. Voila, it happened again..the inflammation. Turns out
    that the junk they spray on many fruits causes this allergy. I have had
    similar experiences with peaches, plums, et al. Its hard to give up
    fruits so I now try to look for only organically grown stuff when I
    hanker for an apple. Or, I peel the sucker and wash it VERY VERY
    thoroughly. I do give up the vitamins and minerals in the peel but hey
    what can I do?
    
    Maybe the pollutants in the earth cause the problem. I tend to believe
    that the cause is the junk they spray.
    
    
    Raj
    

    I'm sure everyone will have their own opinion on whether or not they
    choose to be concerned about these kinds of things.  Alot of people
    filter their drinking water nowadays, and then there are those that do
    not.  Everyone kind of has to weigh the risk vs. benefits of paying
    attention to what they ingest.  For example, there are still plenty of
    folks who still "live" on McDonald's Bic Macs, even though there are 
    reems of data indicating that high/saturated fat foods are hard on the 
    heart.
    
    I've read plenty of articles, and have heard many cautions about eating
    foods that are grown commercially (i.e. with pesticides and herbicides
    regularly applied while growing).  Most of what I've seen indicates
    that these chemicals seep into the skin, and sometimes flesh, of the
    food being grown.  That's why you may have heard alot of
    recommendations to wash your vegetables well and then peel before
    eating - to get rid of at least some of the chemicals.  
    
    I figure that most herbicides and pesticides probably have a label on
    them cautioning the user not to eat them or get them on their skin,
    etc...  With this in mind, I figure it's probably not a good idea to
    eat foods that have these chemicals in or on them.  Now, I'm not a real
    die-hard health nut, but I figure it's just as easy to buy "organically
    grown" foods as it is to buy commerically grown ones.  So whenever I
    can I get the ones that I feel will be better for my health.  Sure, I
    still eat some of the commerically grown foods, but I'm becoming more
    aware that they may not be good for me in the long run, and staying
    away from them more and more.
    
    One other reason I choose to support organically grown foods is that
    I've also heard that the pesticides, herbicides, chemical fertilizers, 
    and larger farming operations are slowly depleting the quality and 
    quantity of top soil available for farming.  When the quality of the 
    soil that food is grown in is depleted, the food doesn't draw and 
    produce the same nutritional value that it normally would in a good,
    healthy soil.  The smaller farming operations that grow their food
    organically tend to also be more mindful of rotating crops, etc... to
    preserve the soil.
    
    I'm sure there is plenty of literature available that goes into more
    detail on this.  Sorry, I can't recommend something from memory to read
    about this.
    
    Renee

    .4
    
    As for me persoanlly, the less un-needed stuff I put in my system the
    better - its why I don't use salt (enough in processed foods), I quit
    smoking and except on a rare 'wine' occasion quit drinking.
    
    And yes it is a little more expensive but my own sense of peace-of-mind
    is worth it, though I do still purchase fresh fruits and veggies at
    Shaws (a supermarket) I would defeinity prefere 'organically grown'
    'pesticide free' over traditional supermarket faire.
    
    Joyce

    There's also the question of pesticides that are illegal to use in this
    country, but produced here and sold internationally.  
    
    Then we import the food to be eaten here.
    
    Is this some kind of divine justice?
    
    mj