Going...going...gone organic

It wasn’t long after my older sister Joan moved to California that she joined in the go-organic movement. She didn’t just talk about the benefits of eating the chemical-free foods; she sent them as Christmas presents. That said to us, ‘Yep, she’s a California wacko, alright!’ My Mom disdained the attractively packaged dried fruit, like apricots, figs, dates; almonds Joan sent for Christmas gifts. She never did find anyone to re-gift, so the  organic goody box  left the back of the fridge  eight months later and landed in the round file .

When my family and I moved to Central Minnesota 13 years ago, we'd not only left behind all that we knew and loved; we eventually embraced the world of organic foods, thanks to a close friend here. Voila! We’d stumbled into a better-eating life Joan would have approved of; we'd picked up where she let off.

Did we leap into organic eating right away? Clearly, no, it was a slow transition, first, trying red-tipped lettuce, then broccoli. Lightly steamed, the stuff tasted pretty good, dressed lightly in real butter and a quick shake of salt.

Some traditional grocery stores have sold against organic foods by saying they're expensive. At first that was true; not so much now as prices of non-organic fruits and veggies get costlier. The converted me has to ask---is it better to spend 30-cents more per pound for food you’re not going to waste because it costs 30-cents more per pound, or is it better to save that 30-cents and eat food you know contains health-harming pesticides and herbicides? Chemicals you’ll consume. Call that one a no-brainer.

So we’ve moved past the 'it's wacko' thinking of my kidhood. Let's hear it for nutrient-rich, good-tasting organic food, truly an investment in good health! Do I hang my head and admit Big Sis was right? Organically speaking---yep!