Georgia Peaches

[DivaKitty]

In the new issue of Eating Well magazine there is a letter from a reader stating on a recent visit he noted skull and crossbones poison signs outside most of the orchards and the smell of chemicals in the air. They seem to infer that this practice is singular to Georgia peaches and that they are not fit to eat.
Please share your thoughts (and do I need to throw my peaches out?):covri:

[hungryone]

Conventionally grown soft stone fruits (apricots, peaches, plums, etc) are heavily sprayed with a variety of things, ranging from bordeaux mixture (a fungicide of hydrated lime & copper sulphate) to blossom set to pesticides, horticultural oils, and on and on. Some of these things are permissable in organic culture, others are not, so buying organic only doesn't mean that you'll avoid all "bad stuff".

In general, the organic standards allow for chemicals derived from botanic or mineral sources that break down quickly. Does this mean that organic produce is never sprayed with ANYTHING? Of course not...you can't really raise a commercial-density crop of fruit without some intervention. For example, the aforementioned bordeaux mixture is a potent fungicide allowed in organic growing, but I still wouldn't want to get the stuff on my skin or in my drinking water. Pesticides, herbicides, other agricultural agents are designed to be noxious--that's the whole point--they're killing something (fungus, bugs, weeds, whatever).

Don't throw out the peaches. Wash them well, use a little vinegar in the wash water. If you're really freaked out, peel them first.

Personally, I figure that the tap water & air quality of Cancer Alley will kill me long before any residues on my fruit.

[DivaKitty]

Thanks Hungryone!
I've been rinsing them but will do so with more diligence.
DK

[Occasional Cook]

The EPA requires agricultural fields to post warnings, especially for the safety of the field workers, when crops are treated with pesticides. These signage periods are for a short period of time, usually a few hours.

As an example, see Sec. 6776, b-1 below for the "skull and crossbones." I believe that EPA started requiring this designation in the late '90s.

So don't be alarmed with the peaches.

OC

http://are.berkeley.edu/APMP/pubs/pest3.html#6776

[DivaKitty]

Thanks... Especially since I had eaten so many before reading the article!