Podcast Episode 097: Produce and Pesticides in Perspective – Teresa Thorne

“It’s shocking, and sad, that only 1 in 10 Americans gets enough fruits and vegetables each day. Especially when decades of research show – and ALL health experts agree – that increasing consumption of produce can improve health and prevent diseases. In fact, if only half of all Americans increased their fruit and vegetable intake by ONE serving a day, an estimated 20,000 cancers could be prevented every year. Both organic and conventional production methods yield safe and healthy foods that experts everywhere agree we should all eat more of each day.” – Teresa Thorne 

On today’s episode, we explore one of the most important topics in nutrition: produce and pesticides. Health experts, the government and environmental groups all agree that increasing consumption of conventional and organic produce can improve health and prevent diseases. So what about all those scary messages we hear in the media about pesticides?

Disclosure: This podcast episode is sponsored by The Alliance for Food and Farming, a non-profit organization comprised of both organic and conventional farmers.

Teresa Thorne is the Executive Director of the Alliance for Food and Farming (AFF), a non-profit organization comprised of both organic and conventional farmers. AFF’s mission is to deliver credible, science-based information to reassure consumers about the safety of all produce, whether it is organic or conventionally produced. The AFF counters and corrects misinformation and inaccuracies about produce safety which may discourage consumers from healthful eating habits and undermine public health efforts to increase consumption of fruits and vegetables.

The information AFF shares is in collaboration with experts in the fields of toxicology, risk analysis, nutrition, health and farming. Providing consumers with science-based studies and analyses, peer-reviewed research and balanced information about the safety of fruits and vegetables allows facts, not fears, to guide shopping choices. The AFF is based in the farming community of Watsonville, California and is proud to represent farmers growing the food that health experts universally agree we should all eat more of every day.

Tune in to hear the facts about produce and pesticides, organic and conventional produce, regulations and safety standards, Farmer’s Markets, the pesticide residue calculator, how to wash your produce, and other important tips for enjoying more produce every day.

What You’ll Learn from this Episode:

• Why Teresa wants to spread the word about the hard work of produce farmers.
• What farmers are doing to make sure all produce is safe.
• AFF’s mission.
• Why the Dirty Dozen is not helpful.
• Important information on how to wash (or rinse!) fresh produce.
• What pesticides are and why they are important.
• How pesticides can be used in both organic and conventional production.
• The important differentiation between a product recall and an outbreak.
• What you need to know about produce and pesticide risks.
• The significant health benefits of increasing your consumption of fruits and vegetables.
• What the AFF does to correct misinformation regarding produce and pesticides.

Listen to the Full Episode:

Featured on the Show:

• Safe Fruits & Veggies website
• Safe Fruits & Veggies blog
• Pesticide Residue Calculator
• Videos on pesticides, farming, dirty dozen, healthy eating, pregnancy, regulations
• Guide to Food Safety at farmer’s markets
• Research including Nutrition Today article on low-income shoppers, the report on cancer risks and benefits
• Nutrients in different fruits and vegetables
• Safety standards – pesticide use regulations for organic and conventional fruit and vegetable farms
• JUST WASH IT
• Melissa’s Farmer’s Market Tips Video
• Melissa’s Sound Science Toolkit

Sound Bites is collaborating with Today’s Dietitian! Stay tuned for updates on the podcast, blog and newsletter!

Save the Date! Today’s Dietitian Spring Symposium 2019 is in Scottsdale, Arizona May 19-22!

Music by Dave Birk

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