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Organic Strawberries Are Better - in Some Ways
from the Los Angeles Times (Registration Required)
Consumers who buy organic fruits and vegetables because they think they're tastier, more nutritious and better for the environment are getting at least some of what they're paying for, according to a study published online Wednesday.
The finding is based on a detailed comparison of organic and conventional strawberries from 13 pairs of neighboring farms in Watsonville, Calif., where 40% of the state's strawberry crop is produced. A team of ecologists, food chemists, soil scientists and other experts analyzed a variety of factors before concluding that the organic berries--and the dirt they were raised in--were superior.
The organic strawberries had higher concentrations of antioxidants and vitamin C and survived longer without rotting. Taste testers clearly preferred the organic version of Diamante strawberries, one of three varieties tested. DNA analysis revealed that the organically managed soil had a larger array of microbes, an indication that the ecosystem was more resilient. The results were published in the journal PLoS One.
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