Many organic farmers can and often do, use pesticides. The difference is that the pesticides are “all natural” – meaning no synthetics are added. In order to truly buy food just as it grows, you need to do a lot of research about who you’re buying from. Personally knowing them would help. Or even better, start a small, manageable garden where you live.
Buying organic food from large corporation grocery stores is definitely not worth it. There will still be pesticides on the food in most cases (just a different kind, as I said above) – because it comes from mass-producers of food, it costs a ton more and often times they ship it in from places far away, so not only are you polluting the air by buying things that take a lot of gasoline to ship, you’re also not supporting your local economy. And you’re paying higher prices for no reason.
Buy local and buy from a tiny “mom and pop” store. Ask if they use pesticides before you buy. I have a garden and trust me – organic food that is grown with no pesticides does taste a lot better. Is it truly healthier? Well… The American Cancer Society has said that there is no proof pesticides are harmful to human beings. What they didn’t say, however, is more important: They did not say that there is proof that pesticides are not harmful, either.
Knowing how bad pesticides are for the environment and the animals in it (based on tests done in the past), is what the ACS didn’t say worth the possible risk?