07/14/2025
✨Produce✨
Those little stickers on your produce aren’t just there to irritate you when cutting up your fruits and veggies 😅 They also give the consumer an idea of how their produce was grown!
Conventionally grown-
This produce was treated with pesticides, herbicides, and other synthetic fertilizers.
Genetically modified-
The DNA of this produce has been altered. This is done to produce crops that are herbicide and drought tolerance, or pest and disease resistance.
Currently, the U.S. has 10 GMO crops- Squash, Soybean, Corn, Cotton, Papaya, Canola, Alfalfa, Sugar Beets, Potato, and Apple.
Organic-
This produce has been grown and processed according to specific standards. The “Certified USDA Organic” sticker means the produce is not genetically modified, and has not been treated with synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. Organic produce also tends to have a higher nutrient content.
Apeel-
This produce has been coated with a non-removable “protective layer” meant to reduce spoiling. The USDA just approved conventional and organic produce to be treated with Apeel. However, there is controversy surrounding this as there has been a lack of transparency regarding the ingredients in Apeel, putting consumers with allergies or other health concerns at risk.
I recommend shopping from your local farmer’s markets, or growing your own food so you know exactly how it has been grown and processed! But making informed decisions is one of the best things you can do for your health, so I hope this makes it a little easier for you ☺️
