Root vegetables are great, from the basic Russet potatoes to sweet potatoes. They are also a good addition to curries and soups.  The bad news about conventional potatoes is that they are covered with more pesticide than any other vegetables.

“Russet potatoes are high in starch. Russet are perfect to cook mashed potatoes and also are good for baking.” - Photo from All About Potatoes.

Since finding out about how much pesticides is used to grow potatoes, I will have to think twice before purchasing any from now on.  Or even purchasing potato chips and french fries.  Since a majority of these farmed potatoes are used for this purpose.

Because potatoes are root vegetables, they soak in more chemicals then other produce.  Potatoes also require much more pesticides from beginning to end. As well as frequent weekly sprays to prevent blight. Then herbicides are used to kill tops of plants at the end of the growing season. As this makes it easier to harvest the tubers.

Over 40 toxic pesticides are used on potatoes and most of these pesticides are linked to chronic side effects such as cancer, disruption in endocrine and reproductive system. All these chemicals can’t be good for the environment, imagine what is leaching to our ground water.

A potato farmer even stated (in Whole Living’s November ‘09 publication) that he farms his own plot of organic potatoes to feed his family.  It’s horrible to hear that you could sell something you wouldn’t even eat.  What kind of world are we living in?

At least the Europeans have the sense to improve the situation. Since 2005, European markets have been selling up to ten varieties of potatoes which are grown without using chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

Patrick Holden, director of the Soil Association in Europe said, “The results from the research are good news for farmers and consumers. Organic potato growing can be technically challenging and we hope that these blight resistant varieties will enable UK organic farmers to produce more potatoes and reduce the reliance of imports. It is encouraging that the supermarkets are recognising the challenges of growing organic potatoes and have started giving these new varieties a chance on the supermarket shelf.”  Source Reuters UK.

Delicious and sweet purple yam, hopefully organic yams.  A bit rare in the market, but a real treat to eat.  Image source.

As for the U.S., the University of Wisconsin did this study in 1992, with promising results for growing organic potatoes.

“Organic potatoes yielded an average of 21,200 pounds per acre over all three varieties, while conventional methods averaged 32,800 pounds per acre. Overall organic production costs averaged $1,074 per acre compared to overall conventional production costs that averaged $928 per acre.”

Hooray for Wisconsin for leading the pack! It would be great to see more farmers switch to organic farming soon. Growing and eating organic potatoes are better for all involved.

Additional Info:

Consumers To Benefit From Organic Potato Breakthrough Science Daily.

I personally will be eating sweet potato, yam, winter squash, and carrot instead.

At least these produce made it to the “Cleanest 12″ (starting with the best) from Environmental Working Group - Dirty Dozen.

* onions
* avocados
* sweet corn (frozen)
* pineapples
* mangoes
* asparagus
* sweet peas (frozen)
* kiwi fruit
* bananas
* cabbage
* broccoli
* papaya

Update 10/30/09: Now I can look forward to eating McDonald’s french fries again!

“Since McDonald’s doesn’t grow its own potatoes, the company will ask suppliers like ConAgra and J.R. Simplot to cut down pesticide use. And since ConAgra and J.R. Simplot also supply potatoes to other companies, McDonald’s will succeed in shaking up the entire potato supply chain. Whether McDonald’s pesticide initiative succeeds remains to be seen, but it is an important step regardless for an industry that is not exactly known for social responsibility. ” - Fast Company 3/31/2009

“In March, three activist investor groups won an agreement from McDonald’s to promote best practices to cut pesticide use by its American potato suppliers.” - NPR 9/23/09