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Zest For Life ...

post #1 of 9
5/22/07 at 6:14am
Thread Starter 
or Why I'm Reluctant to Zest Conventionally Grown Citrus

I'm concerned that conventionally grown citrus is sprayed with pesticides, and that the pesticide residue can never be completely washed off. Conventional citrus is also coated with wax, to preserve freshness, which is also hard to wash off, and which, while "food grade," may also be a petroleum derrivitive. My concern is that, if my understanding is correct, I don't want to be ingesting this stuff.

Should I be concerned? I'd always much rather use the local and organic products, but yesterday I couldn't get what I wanted and was going to buy a couple of conventional lemons, but decided to wait until today when the local farmer's market opens.

Shel
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post #2 of 9
5/22/07 at 8:48am
I don't know. When you think about all the pollution in the air that we breathe everyday, day-in and day-out, and it all rains down on the food that the animals eat and the veggies and fruits absorb it and grow on it, and then it all gets into the water reservoir deep down, I don't know if one can fight it anymore.

doc
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post #3 of 9
5/22/07 at 11:09am
Wow! Hadn't even considered that! I don't have a source for local organic producers of lemons Still and all, I think I'm going to choose to ignore that problem ;).

I may end up being the first person to die from ingestion of pesticides through lemon zest. If I am, please think of me well!

btw, you may think I'm treating your concern lightly. I promise I'm not. I'm treating MY concern lightly cuz ****, I've already given away all my teflon. I limit my seafood consumption. I have avoided aluminum for years. I buy organic when I can...see the pattern? I don't want my fam to start calling me Howard Hughes! :D

Cheers and hope you can figure out which way you're gonna go on this!
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post #4 of 9
5/22/07 at 11:14am
Thread Starter 
That's certainly an interesting, and perhaps valid, point, although I don't know how muchweight it should be given <shrug>. However, at least for now, I don't feel like accelerating the process. In any case, I'd like to make an informed choice instead of just shrugging my shoulders and saying to **** with it.

Shel
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post #5 of 9
5/23/07 at 12:11am
I only buy organic, unwaxed lemons - and have done for many years. I don't mind buying ordinary (ie un-organic!) citrus fruits if I am going to discard the peel. But for things like marmalade, where I need to use most of the fruit/peel, I wouldn't feel comfortable about using non-organic stuff.
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post #6 of 9
5/23/07 at 1:15am
Thread Starter 
It was quite simple - I just bought organic from a known source, and a friend gave me some lemons from her family lemon tree. While not "certified organic" these lemons have not been sprayed, nor have they been waxed (as even some organic lemons are).

Shel
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post #7 of 9
5/23/07 at 1:17am
Thread Starter 
Pretty much my position as well ...

Shel
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post #8 of 9
5/23/07 at 6:12am
I always scrub my conventionally grown citrus fruits with warm water and a vegetable brush if I'm going to zest them. Pretty simple solution. Not perfect (what is?) but it helps, I like to think.
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post #9 of 9
5/23/07 at 7:24am
Thread Starter 
According to some articles I've read, it doesn't help much, if at all. You'd need more than just warm water and a brush.

Shel
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