Those little stickers really do mean something.
Have you ever stared at the sticker on your beautiful fuji apple and wondered what the numbers meant? Turns out, they really do matter! There are many different meanings depending on the first one of those numbers.
Any number that starts with a “9” means that piece of produce is an organic good. You may be wondering what exactly it means for something to be organic. Organic basically means that the soil that the product is grown in has been untouched by pesticides, chemically contaminated fertilizers, pesticides and antibiotics. Organic food not only tastes better, but it has been scientifically proven to have healthier benefits inside the body. To learn more about why organic is the way to go, click here. Remember, you actually are what you eat so fuel up on the good stuff! Here are a few of my favorites to always buy organic when possible:
- Apples
- Cucumbers
- Kale
- Bell Peppers
Anything starting with a “3” or “4” means that it is grown conventionally. Conventional farming is when chemicals and pesticides are used in different methods to allow for bigger, faster and longer lasting crops. If you are shopping on a budget, here are a few items that are okay to buy conventionally grown:
- Sweet Potatoes
- Avocados
- Onions
- Cabbage
Finally, that dreaded number starting with an “8” means your food has been genetically engineered. This means that the food you are buying has been created by a person or machine in order to maximize productivity. Try to stay away from this produce at all costs.
