When you unpack the weekly fruit and veg shop, are you left wondering how healthy it all is? Intensive farming methods and the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides have become the norm, as we demand perfectly formed, unblemished specimens with vibrant colours. Besides the obvious health implications, how sustainable is this appraoch for our fragile, overworked soils?
Soil Science
To produce healthy produce you need healthy soils to sustain them. Unfortunately Australian soils are not especially fertile, largely the result of the great age of our continent. They are variously too salty, acidic, clayey and generally impoverished. The few zones where soils are fertile haven’t been especially well taken care of either – with over cultivation, overgrazing and soil erosion the order of the day.
Surprisingly this persistent abuse does not appear to have had a significant impact on the mineral content of our fruit and veg. A study by Food Standards Australia and New Zealand examined the mineral content of a range of our most common fruits and vegetables – specifically the potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc content. It found that there were only minor differences in the mineral content, based on a sample from the early 1980s and compared to produce from two decades later.
Organic vs. Non-organic
For those of us looking for healthier fare, organic has been the default option. Surprisingly the widely-held notion that it is more nutrient rich than non-organic produce has not been confirmed. In fact, a 2009 UK-based study found that there was a small nutritional difference between the organic and non-organic foods, "unlikely to be of any public health relevance."
But – and it is a significant but - this study did not examine the phytochemical content of the produce. Phytochemicals give plants their antioxidant properties and is part of their natural defence mechanism against pests and diseases. Interestingly, the study observed that when plants are sprayed with pesticides, phytochemical production is reduced. Organic certification prohibits the use of artificial pesticides and herbicides – but also results in produce that is superior in taste, flavour and green credentials.
Fruit and Veg Pointers
So what are some other good fruit and veg habits to aim for? Seasonal is a good place to start. This ensures that the produce will have spent little or no time being stored, minimising nutrient loss. It is also a good idea to buy a little often rather than stuffing your fridge full, only for the food to go bad. In terms of cooking veg, steaming or stir-fry is the way to go, as boiling destroys more nutrients.
Originally published on Mar 20, 2012
