Organic Grains

Health Considerations

• Pesticide residues: Residues on conventional grain products tend to be low. Conventional rice, however, is grown with three times as many pesticides as grain. Also, rice is typically grown in water, increasing the likelihood of contaminated water supplies.
• Fumigants: Conventionally grown grain is treated with phosphine fumigants during storage to kill insects that remain after harvesting. Although these fumigants can be toxic at high levels, there is no evidence that current levels pose a serious threat. Organic grain producers, on the other hand, use carbon dioxide fumigants and ship their products more frequently to reduce the likelihood of further insect growth.
• GMOs: More than 60% of conventionally grown corn in the United States is grown from genetically modified seeds.

Environmental Considerations

• Groundwater contamination: Conventional growing of rice in water with the aid of large amounts of herbicide contributes to serious groundwater contamination problems in rice-growing regions.
• Runoff and erosion: The heavy machinery used to harvest nonorganic wheat compacts soil and leads to chemical runoff and soil erosion. Though organically produced wheat does not cause chemical runoff, many organic producers do use heavy machinery to harvest their wheat, leading to similar soil erosion problems.

Recommendations

• If health issues are your chief concern: You may not find organic grains worth the extra expense, since pesticide residues are relatively low even in conventionally grown grains.
• If environmental issues are your chief concern: You may want to consider organic grains in light of the groundwater contamination, runoff, and erosion that conventional grain-growing practices can cause.
• If you’re on a tight food budget: Among processed organic grain products, organic pastas are often the most competitively priced with their nonorganic counterparts. In addition, you can often find relative bargains on organic grain products in bulk bins.

Where to Buy Organic Grains

• Supermarkets
• Health food and natural food stores
• Local bakeries
• Local farmers’ markets
• Food cooperatives