Friday, April 24, 2009
April showers bring May flowers, along with fresh local produce.
On April 11 the downtown Lawrence Farmers’ Market on Ninth and New Hampshire streets opened for the season as vendors set up tents to show off and sell their spring produce. The market is open from 7 to 11 a.m. every Saturday.
Photo Gallery
Lawrence Downtown Farmers' Market
View photos of vendors selling their spring produce.
Margaret Tran, Derby junior, said she tried to shop locally at the farmers’ market as often as she could to support local merchants, purchase sustainable products and avoid harmful pesticide residue found in produce shipped from outside Kansas.
PESTICIDE PROBLEM
According to the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting public health and the environment, buying certain fruits and vegetables organically and locally can decrease the amount of harmful pesticides ingested.
The EWG named 12 fruits and vegetables part of the “Dirty Dozen.” The EWG found during a seven-year study that people who ate produce items on the list ingested an average of 10 pesticides per day.
Nancy O’Conner, nutrition educator at the Community Mercantile, 901 N. Iowa St., said the health risks associated with consuming pesticides were too unknown to consume them on a regular basis.
“We were never meant to eat a diet of pesticides,” O’Conner said.
breakbox1
Dirty Dozen 1. Peach 2. Apple 3. Bell pepper 4. Celery 5. Nectarine 6. Strawberries 7. Cherries 8. Kale 9. Lettuce 10. Grapes 11. Carrot 12. Pear
Clean 15 1. Onion 2. Avocado 3. Sweet corn 4. Pineapple 5. Mango 6. Asparagus 7. Sweet peas 8. Kiwi 9. Cabbage 10. Eggplant 11. Papaya 12. Watermelon 13. Broccoli 14. Tomato 15. Sweet potato
Source: www.foodnews.org
She said an even bigger concern was the “cocktail effect,” when multiple pesticides are mixed, creating possible negative side effects.
REGULATION
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency works with the United States Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration to ensure products sold and consumed in U.S. are safe.
But even with government regulation, the EPA points out that pesticides are substances used to prevent, destroy, propel or mitigate living organisms, making them potentially harmful to humans.
THE COST
For some students like Megan Do, Wichita sophomore, the price of organic food is just too high.
“Everyday I hear about the benefits of eating organic but it’s 2 to 3 dollars more than regular produce,” Do said. “That’s a complete turn-off.”
breakbox1
Seasonal produce for April & May Downtown Lawrence Farmers’ Market
-Asparagus -Beets -Broccoli -Brussels sprouts -Cabbage -Cauliflower -Cucumber -Leeks -Lettuce -Onions -Peas -Radishes -Spinach -Rhubarb -Strawberries -Tomatoes -Corn
Do said she was confident that the government had inspected her food thoroughly.
Tran said although some organic produce tended to be more expensive than fruits and vegetables sold in supermarkets, she saved money by being attentive to what produce was in season. She said she was able to buy fresh lettuce, spinach and root vegetables last weekend for cheaper than she would have at a supermarket.
“Sometimes I am amazed that people don’t want to spend an extra dollar on organic, but they’ll buy a latte at Starbucks,” O’Conner said.
She said she visited the farmers’ market in previous weeks and enjoyed knowing that her food came from Kansas. She said the prices were fair when she considered the farmer’s labor and that her food would stay fresh for longer.
Tran suggested only buying some produce items organically if students were concerned about their budgets not stretching enough.
“It can be a balance. Maybe you buy the lettuce local and the tomatoes somewhere else,” Tran said. “Do what you can.”
Beginning in May the market will also be open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 to 6 p.m. along with Saturdays from 7 to 11 a.m.
— — Edited by Liz Schubauer
Spring brings increase in local and organic ...
Find out what produce to buy and what to avoid when eating ...
Schwartz: Organics are good for both body ...
Overcome false assumptions about organic products
KU Dining Services supports local foods
University’s effort to save money, support sustainability includes rooftop garden and local ...
Lawrence residents find benefits in local food
The Lawrence Farmers’ Market has become a popular shopping option for local ...
Lawrence, Japan exchange ideas on organic business
Japanese organic food professionals are visiting Lawrence to explore local organic markets.
Film sheds light on farming industry
“Food, Inc.,” showing at the Kansas Union tonight, encourages people to buy ...
Organic Foods: The meaning behind the label
The meaning behind the label.
Sustainable food recognition tonight at 7
Kansas River Valley sustainable food community recognized at Liberty Hall; economist Ken ...
Evanhoe: Organic foods are more appealing
Students go green to save green
Local gardening organizations help students grow their own produce.
Lawrence schools see growing success with gardening ...
Several local schools are growing their own gardens as a part of ...
Spring Eats
Celebrate the return of nice weather with fresh, healthy meal ideas
Students revitalize campus with a garden
Student group, E.A.R.T.H., plants vegetables behind the University Relations building for donation ...
This Weekend: Farmer's Market
A quick look into Lawrence's farmer's market.
Former student spent month purchasing local produce
Living life as a locavore meant only buying food within a 100-mile ...
Food Revolution
From the farmers to the restaurant to the consumer, learn how local ...
Students help farmers market thrive
University and local farms benefit from each other
The Merc challenges people to eat local
Eating locally produced foods is healthier, tastier and good for the environment, ...
Deciphering the labels on food
So many different labels on food sometimes makes it difficult to pick ...
Montano: Farm Aid concert does more than ...
Attending a Farm Aid concert brought local farming issues to the forefront ...
Farmers’ Market offers more than just fruits ...
Vendors hope to attract more college students with new evening hours.
Everyone loves a weekend Valentine’s day
Exhibits, concerts and theater performances among holiday happenings in Lawrence and KC
Locavores big on food, short on fact
The advantages of local produce may be an illusion.
Group gardens to donate food
EARTH members plants vegetables and donates them to ECKAN Just Food Pantry, ...
Dining Services offers local produce
New Farm to Cart program sells locally grown fruits and vegetables on ...
This weekend: KJHK Farmer's Ball
Because those CSI marathons are getting old.
Editorial: Farmers' market is culture
Farmers' market is a good way to experience Lawrence culture and community.
Environmental film festival kicks off this week
Films for Action, an independent media outlet from Lawrence, and student groups ...
Parched future of the plains
A warming climate is adversely affecting animals native to Kansas and the ...
Local Burger featured on Sundance
Doctors in the a new spin-off documentary called "Localize Me," will examine ...
Trans fat statistics not available for Dining ...
Crowd votes Will Nots as winner
Boogie and soul group takes champion title of Farmer’s Ball battle of ...
How to have a green valentine’s day
Find roses, chocolates, wines and candles that are better for the Earth.
‘The Colbert Report’ may cover local 11-year-old ...
Lawrence legalizing hedgehog ownership and the 11-year-old responsible have interested the show’s ...
Winemakers celebrate new amendment
Kansas wineries able to sell their product at farmer’s markets under new ...
Katz: A subsidized sickness
The price of cheap food ultimately adds up.
Alumna in running to be first ‘green ...
Juliana Tran will find out tonight whether she has won Project Green ...
Transitional care
Making the switch from college student to a paid volunteer.
Student group gives back to local farms
A campus group spends their weekends helping local farmers.
Local bands compete at Farmer’s Ball
KJHK’s Farmer’s Ball gives local bands the chance to perform and compete ...
From left: Kimberlee Hinkle, Libby Johnson and Hannah ...
1 comment
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID