Food and Water
Given the pesticide residues and genetically modified plants in most products, your best choice in food is organic. Organic food contains no pesticides*, is better for the environment and promotes much better farming practices. We also link to companies that offer organic products. They are listed because of word of mouth referrals. GreenCAPE accepts no money or compensation of any kind from these companies and does not in any way endorse them or accept responsibility for their claims. If you find that any of the companies listed are making false or misleading claims, contact us immediately at GreenCAPE and they will be removed from this page.
We also link to various sources on water. Our groundwater here on Cape Cod is our only source for drinking water. The cleanup going on at Otis is just the beginning of the water problems we face if more is not done to protect our water supply.
EPA National Organic Standards page What organic means, sidebars on children's health, pets, public health issues,...
Read this article from the March 2, 2006 Palm Beach Post about Carlito and the severe birth deformities caused by pesticides in the children of farmworkers. Then come back to this GreenCAPE page and read how AG Mart finally quit using the worst pesticides, but only after being cited AGAIN for violations. Eating organic isn't just about you and me, its about farm worker health as well.
Foodnews.org As this new edition of Environmental Working Group's online food database shows, government tests reveal that organic is indeed a healthier food source. You can also check the pesticides in your fruits and vegetables. There is a report and handy wallet guide, too.
Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) Massachusetts Massachusetts branch of NOFA. Info about the group, land care standards, links to other state groups. Click on the Organic Food Guide for Massachusetts.
Organic Consumer's The Organic Consumers Association (OCA) The OCA is a grassroots non-profit public interest organization which deals with crucial issues of food safety, industrial agriculture, genetic engineering, corporate accountability, and environmental sustainability. We are the only organization in the US focused exclusively on representing the views and interests of the nation's estimated ten million organic consumers.
Ocean's Alive It was the best of fish, it was the worst of fish. And Ocean's Alive will tell you which is which, along with a discussion of Omega-3 fats and stuff on dioxins in fish, much more.
USGS NAWQA Pesticide National Synthesis Project National assessment of pesticides in the streams, rivers, and ground water of the United States. You can download a report on the New England area here and lots more. http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/pnsp/
Water Quality and the Future of Cape Cod A position paper and call to action from the Cape Cod Business Roundtable. Discusses the effects of inadequate wastewater treatment on Cape Cod and the future of our water.
EPA Mass Military Reservation Cleanup page
*Organic food contains no added chemical residue other than that present in all food; all food contains some pesticides or other chemical toxins. These are present in the air we breathe and the water we drink. The only way to avoid them entriely is to not breathe, eat or drink. Not on my list of options.
-Catherine Etter on “Human Factors that Sustain Safe Drinking Water” 2004 GreenCAPE Annual Meeting
USGS Report:Pesticides Everywhere
It is perhaps most striking to directly quote that established, staid, federal agency that is known for just being interested in the facts; the United States Geological Survey.
"At least one pesticide was found in almost every water and fish sample collected from streams in in more than one-half of shallow wells sampled in agricultural and urban areas.>>>Almost every sample from streams and about one-half of samples from wells with a detected pesticide contained two or more pesticides. Although pesticides frequently are found in water, their potential effects on humans and aquatic life are not fully understood."
"More than one-half of agricultural and urban streams had concentrations of at least one pesticide that exceeded a guideline for the protection of aquatic life."
"Many pesticides and their breakdown products do not have standards or guidelines and current standards or guidelines, and current standards and guidelines do not yet account for exposure to mixtures and seasonal pulses of high concentrations. In addition, potential effects on reproductive, nervous, and immune systems, as well as on chemically sensitive individuals are not well understood. For example, some of the most frequently detected pesticides are suspected endocrine disrupters that have potential to affect reproduction or development of aquatic organisms or wildlife by interfering with natural hormones."
The USGS has recently completed a fairly comprehensive survey and pesticide testing program in 20 major watersheds. They tested for some 86 pesticides out of the 700 active ingredients currently in use. This is comprehensive because most testing covers only about 5 or 6 pesticides.
Pesticides Found in 11% of Private Wells
A survey of 55 private drinking water wells found pesticides in 6 of the wells in a one time test of each well. Seven pesticides were detected some of which are carcinogenic where the maximum contaminant level goal would be zero. Other pesticides are endocrine disrupters. Three of the pesticides detected (chlorpyrifos, chlorothalonil, and diazinon) are among the five most commonly used pesticides in the cranberry industry. The survey was released by the Environment and Human Health, Inc. of North Haven Connecticut.
Pesticide in Streams Traced Back to Lawns
Diazinon, a common lawn chemical also used heavily in the cranberry industry, was traced back by scientists from the receiving waters through the storm drains onto specific lots that had used the pesticide. Diazinon was detected in 90 percent of stream samples and potentially toxic levels were found in 27 percent of the samples.
A summary of these reports was published in the April 2004 issue of Watershed Protection Techniques.
Local Farmers' Markets
Buzzards Bay Farmer's Market, Bay Park, Main Street Friday 10 am to 2 pm
Mid-Cape Farmers' Market, 500 block of Main Street Hyannis Wednesday 8 am to noon
Nantucket Farmers' Market, Main and Federal St. Monday - Saturday 9 am to 1 pm
Orleans Farmer's Market, Old Colony Way Saturday 8 am to noon
West Tisbury Farmer's Market, Grange Hall Wednesday and Saturday 9 am to noon
Mashpee Open Market, Mashpee Commons Fridays 11 am to 6 pm
Got Milk?
Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH)
Canada and the EU have banned the use of rBGH because of significant health concerns. Recombinant BGH is used mostly in large factory scale dairy operations and is a factor in squeezing smaller dairy farmers off the land.
MILK, rBGH, AND CANCER This article details many potential health problems for people and cows caused by Bovine Growth Hormone, as well as Monsanto's heavy-handed tactics in covering up the story.
BREAST CANCER, rBGH AND MILK Discusses studies tying insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) to breast cancer and to prostate cancer. IGF-1 levels are now being artificially increased in much of the cows' milk being sold throughout the U.S.