Give Your Produce a Good Bath!

Blueberries were on sale last week so I bought buying 6 pints a day to stock up for winter!  They freeze well and are much cheaper than buying them out of season.  I used to just give them a quick rinse until I read that blueberries have the highest levels of organophosphates, followed by strawberries and celery.

What's an organophosphate?   It is a man-made pesticide that is sprayed onto fruits and vegetables to keep insects away. While once thought harmless, some now argue children are sensitive to these pesticides.  At a young age, the brain is rapidly developing, and kids possibly consume more due to their smaller body weight and size. Experts believe that these chemicals have led to a variety of childhood issues including ADHD.

To minimize your exposure to chemicals, buy local and organic but you should still give everything a thorough washing.

There are commercial produce washes like "FIT" available in the supermarket but there is a less expensive alternative that you can make at home. Add one cup of vinegar to three cups of water in a spray bottle, shake well and spray your produce until it is completely covered.  Rinse with cold water to remove the vinegar taste and wash away any chemical residue.


Tests prove that the vinegar solution removes 98% of all bacteria or pesticides, compared to 80% when washing with a water and brush. Take a few minutes when you get home from the store or Farmers Market to wash all your fruits and veggies- your body and brain will appreciate it!

Oh- and freezing blueberries is easy.
Wash and rinse.  Put 1 layer on a cookie sheet and place in freezer for at least an hour.  Put frozen blueberries into freezer safe bag or container. Doing it this way keeps them from clumping together.

Enjoy this amazing super fruit all year long!