Not's Berry Farm

is one I prefer to do business with...the farms that absolutely do not use pesticides on strawberries and this Red White and Food shout-out is to them.

Those luscious, juicy, sweet heralds of spring, strawberries, are sadly among the most "poisoned" foods we can eat and are listed in the Environmental Working Group's Dirty Dozen...foods so toxin-rich that they are classified as "must buy organic" foods. This from The Daily Green:  Up from No. 6 in 2009, strawberries rank No. 3 on the 2010 Dirty Dozen list. Why? 59 pesticides have been detected in residue on strawberries. Read more: http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/eat-safe/Dirty-Dozen-Foods#ixzz1JKDZtW00

I don't know about you, but that's 59 things I don't want to have to worry about.

From what I can gather, the main culprit is a chemical called methyl idiodide, a gas pesticide that is injected into soil and "uploaded" into the berries. This chemical has been linked to many serious health conditions as well as ground and water contamination.

Here is an article that shows what some farmers are doing to raise healthy berries...healthy for us, the workers and the environment and some more information on what you can do. The EPA is accepting public comment on this pesticide until April 30th. Read this and decide for yourself: http://news.change.org/stories/some-strawberry-farmers-wont-use-cancer-causing-pesticide-methyl-iodide

You have a right to know what you are eating and so ask before you buy, remembering what you eat becomes you! A special thanks to the farmers who are working so hard to feed us and do it safely. We are berry grateful!!