Two weeks of sub-freezing temperature have placed my resolution to shop the yard on hold. We’re back to our more moderate – and depressing – 40 degrees and raining. The chard and the kale will bounce back in due time, although with short days where the sun is barely up before it begins to set again, this will take a while.
So it’s back to the grocery store for fresh produce and figuring out the local-organic-seasonal and sustainable equations in my head. Here’s a tip I picked up from the December issue of MaryJane’s Farm magazine. You know those annoying little stickers adhered to produce that often as not defy removal? Well it turns out they contain a code that indicates how the crop was raised.
A four-digit number (1234) denotes a conventionally produced crop utilizing synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. A number 8 in front of that number (81234) indicates the produce has been genetically modified in some way. But a number that starts with 9 (91234) means you’re purchasing an organically grown crop.
These days you’ll find me perusing the produce aisle muttering “number 9, number 9, number 9” like a winter-dazed Beattles fan in search of good food and counting these last few days until the Winter Solstice and the gradual return of LIGHT!
just say NO to gratuitous stickers!
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So interesting! Thanks for sharing this info. I’ll have to check it out next time I’m at the grocery. (I hope that’s not too soon
.-= Jackie´s last blog ..Easy homemade lemon drop lotion =-.