Eating organic important part of healthy diet

Toledo’s inaugural Farmer’s Market Thursday, meant to take the place of the Saturday Market started by vision:Toledo. With booths at just $5 a piece, those who wish to sell their produce and wares can call Renee at (360) 864-8686.

With the rapid disappearance of traditional family farms, a new generation has revitalized nutritious and delicious alternatives to convenience fare. Farmer’s Markets, such as those in Winlock and Toledo, are among subscription farms and home delivery options, that offer flavor, color and nutrients unmatched by cold storage goods.

Chomp proprietor and Toledo Farmer’s Market organizer Renee Terralumina illustrates the benefits.

"Local is most important, small producers often using organic practices even if they are too small to be certified," she said. "Organic ranks second, grown without petroleum-based pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers, and no genetically-modified organism (GMO) seeds."

Besides supporting the local economy, as more of each dollar stays local instead of going to giant overseas conglomerates, consider nutrition and flavor.

"Healthy soil produces healthy plants, micro-nutrients needed by the plants producing broader range of nutrients and flavonoids. Small farmers rely on their soil for a living and are committed to caring for it," said Terralumina

The Dirty Dozen, published annually by The Daily Green names foods that carry the highest concentrations of pesticides residue: apples, celery, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, grapes, hot peppers, nectarines, peaches, potatoes, strawberries, spinach, bell peppers. Thick-skinned fruits like bananas and oranges less likely to expose consumers to pesti cides.

For top taste and goodness, buy local, buy ripe, and surprise yourself with the taste you remember from your childhood.