Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just read that conventional American apples are banned in Europe because of the level of chemicals. Yikes! What independent schools in Washington, D.C. offer an organic lunch program? Are any a hybrid where they at least offer the "dirty dozen" in organic and cleaner produce is sometimes conventional?

There was an article in the Post a couple of weeks ago comparing the quality of organic and non-organic food and the difference was negligible. Non-organic dairy and meats, in particular, go through a rigorous FDA approved screening process and can only have a small traceable amount of antibiotics. If the livestock is fed any antibiotic to treat illness, the livestock must be tested before it can breed, produce milk or lay eggs again to make sure the antibiotics are out of the system. With all fruit, it is important to wash it thoroughly before eating.

You'll never convince people like OP of this. It's much more exciting and elitist to pay more for organic food and tell yourself that you are somehow doing something that will make them smarter, stronger and live longer. This makes you a "better" parent. It's 99% marketing hype and people like OP are, excuse the pun, ripe for the picking.

Dear Ones,

Washing fruit will not remove pesticides. The pesticides sink deep into the fruit - think strawberries and other berries- they absorb it. You didn't read the WashPo article carefully. Enjoy your fruit salad and factory farm dreams!

Then why is the FDA allowing the US food supply to be released to the public with harmful pesticides? Why aren't we reading more about people dying or contracting cancer from eating produce from Safeway, Giant, Publix and other major food retailers? Where are the news reports? They must be keeping it hidden. I guess the deep, dark secret will come out after we are all dead.

Organic produce is about the environment and pesiticide residue, not taste or nutrition. At least that's how I view it. It's part of the green agenda. I see organic as a way of decreasing my impact on the earth. The truth is organic produce is often not as tasty, as non-organic. When it comes to meat, I prefer the Bell & Evans chickens over Purdue any day. Purdue chickens look yellow and taste mealy compared tothe free-range hippy chickens.

Just to throw out there that many of us prefer organic not because we think there is a nutrition benefit or because we think there is much pesticide residue in the food, but because organic agriculture spares farm workers the pesticide exposure, and is less toxic to the environment. So yes, I buy organic when I can, and would prefer my kid eat organic, but it isn't because I think it is healthier for him, but because I think it is healthier for us all.

Washington Waldorf

You know what? This question could be a little eyeroll worthy I understand but for 30K a year those kids damn well better be getting some organic food. Are you people shitting me? It's crazy to want your kid to eat healthy, organic, locally sourced food if possible....but not crazy to pay 30K a year for kindie.

Ha! Psycho dweebs alla y'all.

Slightly off topic: I often soak fruits in a dilute apple cider vinegar, which I read was good to remove residue. Is this actually good for anything? Just getting the wax off?

Any input? NP here.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just read that conventional American apples are banned in Europe because of the level of chemicals. Yikes! What independent schools in Washington, D.C. offer an organic lunch program? Are any a hybrid where they at least offer the "dirty dozen" in organic and cleaner produce is sometimes conventional?

There was an article in the Post a couple of weeks ago comparing the quality of organic and non-organic food and the difference was negligible. Non-organic dairy and meats, in particular, go through a rigorous FDA approved screening process and can only have a small traceable amount of antibiotics. If the livestock is fed any antibiotic to treat illness, the livestock must be tested before it can breed, produce milk or lay eggs again to make sure the antibiotics are out of the system. With all fruit, it is important to wash it thoroughly before eating.

You'll never convince people like OP of this. It's much more exciting and elitist to pay more for organic food and tell yourself that you are somehow doing something that will make them smarter, stronger and live longer. This makes you a "better" parent. It's 99% marketing hype and people like OP are, excuse the pun, ripe for the picking.

Dear Ones,

Washing fruit will not remove pesticides. The pesticides sink deep into the fruit - think strawberries and other berries- they absorb it. You didn't read the WashPo article carefully. Enjoy your fruit salad and factory farm dreams!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just read that conventional American apples are banned in Europe because of the level of chemicals. Yikes! What independent schools in Washington, D.C. offer an organic lunch program? Are any a hybrid where they at least offer the "dirty dozen" in organic and cleaner produce is sometimes conventional?

There was an article in the Post a couple of weeks ago comparing the quality of organic and non-organic food and the difference was negligible. Non-organic dairy and meats, in particular, go through a rigorous FDA approved screening process and can only have a small traceable amount of antibiotics. If the livestock is fed any antibiotic to treat illness, the livestock must be tested before it can breed, produce milk or lay eggs again to make sure the antibiotics are out of the system. With all fruit, it is important to wash it thoroughly before eating.

You'll never convince people like OP of this. It's much more exciting and elitist to pay more for organic food and tell yourself that you are somehow doing something that will make them smarter, stronger and live longer. This makes you a "better" parent. It's 99% marketing hype and people like OP are, excuse the pun, ripe for the picking.

Anonymous wrote:I just read that conventional American apples are banned in Europe because of the level of chemicals. Yikes! What independent schools in Washington, D.C. offer an organic lunch program? Are any a hybrid where they at least offer the "dirty dozen" in organic and cleaner produce is sometimes conventional?

There was an article in the Post a couple of weeks ago comparing the quality of organic and non-organic food and the difference was negligible. Non-organic dairy and meats, in particular, go through a rigorous FDA approved screening process and can only have a small traceable amount of antibiotics. If the livestock is fed any antibiotic to treat illness, the livestock must be tested before it can breed, produce milk or lay eggs again to make sure the antibiotics are out of the system. With all fruit, it is important to wash it thoroughly before eating.

Holton has good and healthy cuisine

FYI we are already members of a DC private school community. My question was about who offers an organic lunch. I do not know why you feel the need to be a bully on this topic while offering no evidence to your assertion that I am crazy to be interested in organic apples. In 2012 the American Academy of Pediatrics came out with two statements about the topic. Children have unique susciptibility to toxicities from pesticides in terms of their growth and development. http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/130/6/e1757.full

In a statement on pesticide exposure they state that continual low-level pesticide exposure is of concern. Under mechanisms of exposure they make the following statement:

Children encounter pesticides daily in air, food, dust, and soil and on surfaces through home and public lawn or garden application, household insecticide use, application to pets, and agricultural product residues.3–9 For many children, diet may be the most influential source, as illustrated by an intervention study that placed children on an organic diet (produced without pesticide) and observed drastic and immediate decrease in urinary excretion of pesticide metabolites.10

Nevertheless, the AAP recognizes the real-life quandary that parents face in terms of budgetary constraint.

[quote“What’s most important is that children eat a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat or fat-free dairy products, whether those are conventional or organic foods. This type of diet has proven health benefits,” said Janet Silverstein, MD, FAAP, a member of the AAP Committee on Nutrition and one of the lead authors of the report. “Many families have a limited food budget, and we do not want families to choose to consume smaller amounts of more expensive organic foods and thus reduce their overall intake of healthy foods like produce.” - See more at: http://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/pages/american-academy-of-pediatrics-weighs-in-for-the-first-time-on-organic-foods-for-children.aspx#sthash.rVFG8hBc.dpuf

Anonymous wrote:Why do you feel sorry for someone who is interested in organic produce? I guess that it most really frighten you to set foot any NW DC neighborhood!

Because you have no idea what you're talking about, and you're making a decision about your children's schooling based on a ridiculous assumption.

And I've lived in the heart of DC for 12 years, just FYI.

Why do you feel sorry for someone who is interested in organic produce? I guess that it most really frighten you to set foot any NW DC neighborhood!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just read that conventional American apples are banned in Europe because of the level of chemicals. Yikes! What independent schools in Washington, D.C. offer an organic lunch program? Are any a hybrid where they at least offer the "dirty dozen" in organic and cleaner produce is sometimes conventional?

OP, as a food scientist, all I can say is that people like you really scare me.

Agreed. OP, I feel sorry for your children.

Sidwell -- no way! I know from experience in the ms and us... It is not organic. It's totally great but not organic.