As we prepare for a vacation to Mexico, I have discovered a few things... I have spent weeks trying to track down organic food sources in and near Cancun. I figured how hard can it be - there is a lot of organic produce at the grocery stores from Mexico. When I called the resort just outside of Cancun, they had no idea what "organic" was - including the chef. So in my very limited Spanish I searched the very few English websites looking for organic foods. I found some reviews for restaurants in Cancun. %100 Natural was at the top of the list - but the site was completely in Spanish. I managed to find contact info and emailed them to see if they sold organic foods - or hoped they would pass on their suppliers info. Even better! The restaurant emailed me back - in English - thank goodness, and although they did not have any organic items (%100 Natural though), they did forward me a list of grocery stores that did carry organic products. Finding the organic source reduced my stress level immensely - I was actually able to get a little excited about our adventure.
We are attending a wedding between an Acupuncturist & a Naturopathic Doctor - however, this would be the least 'Green' wedding I have every been to - whether as a guest or as the Professional Wedding Photographer. It is such a stark contrast to the eco-wedding I attended in the summer. The eco-wedding focused on local resources, reduced carbon emissions, all the details focused around sustainability and environmental consciousness, right down to the food and flowers selected. They were a wedding on a dime - but you could never tell - it was beautiful - the decorations, the food, the ceremony... But the Mexico Wedding - oh my. Over 40 people flying from Canada and the US to Mexico to stay at an all inclusive resort. I am sure it will be a beautiful and exotic wedding, but the carbon emissions alone for this wedding are phenomenal.
While researching organic food suppliers for this trip, I came across two articles from mindfully.org that I found very educational. The first one is about banana plantations and the second about the inert ingredients in pesticides. (click on highlighted words to read original articles)
Who knew bananas were so toxic? No wonder they are at the top of the list for inducing migraines! In the article, "Life on a banana plantation; Growing Chiquita bananas: pesticides and hard work," the process of pesticide use on banana plantations is thoroughly described. I was shocked to find out how many times pesticides were applied to bananas - and in such an environmentally sensitive area. Herbicides, Nematicides, Pesticides, Fungicides... several applications by crop dusting, hand application, water spray - even after they are picked more pesticides are applied! Not only is the banana industry slammed for the use of pesticides - but also for the conditions under which the employees work - it is devastating to think that purchasing non-organic/ non fair-trade bananas are perpetuating this behaviour. It is both a social and environmental injustice.
In Ecuador it is "estimated 30 kilograms of pesticides blanket each hectare of plantation in a given year." The other ugly truth is that less than 1% of bananas imported to Canada are fair trade (Toronto Star Aug 2009). Looking for safe bananas, not a banana cocktail? Organic fair-trade is the only way to go. Loblaws, Whole Foods, Nature's Emporium, The Carrot, and various other Health Food/Organic produce stores have organic fair-trade bananas available.
What is in pesticides - besides cancer causing agents, genotoxicity, endocrine and neuro- disruptors? "Inert" ingredients are in pesticides... There are two categories with respect to pesticide ingredients 'active' and 'inert.' The article "Unidentified Inert Ingredients in Pesticides" explains how the active ingredients are the only ingredients that are really investigated or regulated by the government - even though the inert ingredients (which may not even be listed in many products including household cleaners, and various other products humans come into contact with/ingest) can be extremely toxic as well.
"The U.S. EPA has identified almost 3,000 substances, with widely varying toxicity, that are used as inert ingredients in the U.S. (U.S. EPA 2004)... Numerous studies indicate that inert ingredients may enhance the toxicity of pesticide formulations to the nervous system, the cardiovascular system, mitochondria, genetic material, and hormone systems." The article further moves to express concerns regarding how the combination of active and inert chemicals is more toxic than when they are studied as separate ingredients. In addition the combination also appears to render protective wear ineffective. At the time of this article (2006 - not long enough ago for any significant change to have taken place in legislation), despite moving evidence of the toxicity of combining inert and active ingredients in pesticides, these chemicals are still being used liberally on our food. If you are not purchasing organic food - you are eating more than just a piece of fruit, a slice of bread, or even a rather benign looking box of cereal. You are eating a cocktail of chemicals in every mouthful.
So when you look in the mirror and wonder why you can't get rid of that last 10 or 20 lbs, or why you feel tired all the time, or why - regardless of your best effort to eat healthy, you still don't feel as healthy as you think you should - take a closer look at your diet. Try substituting your conventional produce with organic produce. As you finish a box of cereal, a loaf of bread, pasta... replace it with organic foods. Once you have transferred over completely - then take stock. Besides the significant improvement to your health - you have made an even greater impact to the global environment and social justice in many countries around the world.
For more information on Pesticides and Endocrine Disrupters visit www.mindfully.org/Pesticide/2005/pesticide2005.htm
Click any of the highlighted links above to visit the original articles.