The supermarket is convenient. We get that. But does convenience come at a cost? Let’s dive into the differences between store-bought and homegrown produce.
Food Varieties
When strolling through the grocery store, you may have 10 different varieties of apples to choose from. The name of the different varieties has distinct characteristics in growth and flavor. When growing your own food, the varieties available are abundant. Your choice determines the nutrients and quality you will harvest.
In order to meet the demand of real life population, commercial farmers develop varieties based on high yields, fast growth, and how well the produce preserves during transport. With this in mind, flavor, and nutrients are lost. Decades ago, varieties had much more nutrient value than we see now.
Research comparing nutrient content in garden crops using U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) data from 1950 to 1999 found significant drops in several nutrients.1
While using regenerative gardening techniques requires patience with less yield, there is a reason behind this method. High-yielding plants will not process nutrients by using a fast-rate growing method. By growing your own food, you pick your varieties based on what factors you want in your produce. Heirloom varieties (passed down from generation) have the best flavor and higher nutrient value.
Growing Methods
It’s all about your soil. Vegetables use a lot of soil because they need nutrients. When your soil is lacking, so will your harvest.
An important factor to consider is your soil’s pH level. You soil’s pH affects whether nutrients stay in forms your plants can use. If your pH is off, no amount of fertilizer will make it into your plants. By focusing on gardening methods that work with the soil and focus on the overall health of the plant, you are maintaining a natural balance for the entire ecosystem to work together in your garden.
Nutrient comparison research shows that nitrogen fertilizers in particular have beneficial effects on vitamin levels.1 Nitrogen flows easily in your soil when watering which means it needs to be replaced frequently. By saving your coffee grinds, this is a cost-efficient nitrogen solution. We always recommend doing a soil test to properly check your soil to understand what you are lacking/excessive in.
Harvesting
Are you waiting for your produce to ripen before you harvest? Research shows that crops picked fully ripe have more vitamin C than those picked early.2
The downside of fully ripe harvests is they have shorter shelf lives. This is why most of your grocery store produce is lacking nutrient value. Commercial growers will pick pre-full ripe produce to maintain the supply-demand. It’s the details on ripening that is important to note. Even when they do ripen in color from green to red, for example, they may not “ripen” in nutrient levels the way they would have if picking was postponed.3
Commercial harvesting practices cause stress with also contribute to nutrient loss.3
Pesticides
In order to keep up with supply, pesticides are a downfall to store-bought produce. Pesticides have been linked to leukemia, lymphoma, and cancers of the brain, breasts, prostate, testes, and ovaries. Reproductive harm includes birth defects, stillbirth, and infertility.
Pesticides have been implicated in human studies of leukemia, lymphoma and cancers of the brain, breasts, prostate, testes and ovaries. Reproductive harm from pesticides includes birth defects, still birth, spontaneous abortion, sterility and infertility.4
Endocrine disruptors are also a factor to consider. These disruptors are chemicals that interfere with important body functions by mimicking or block hormones. Some pesticides act as endocrine disruptors and have been shown to cause serious harm to animals, including cancer, sterility and developmental problems. Similar impacts have been associated with human exposure to these chemicals.4
Verdict
If you don’t have the space or time for a huge garden, start small. With any project, this is always a good approach. Start with a tomato plant or a few herbs in your window seal. With every project, it is always best to do your own research and follow a method that works for your lifestyle, health, and budget.
Sources
1. Donald R. Davis, PhD, FACN, Melvin D. Epp, PhD and Hugh D. Riordan, MD, “Changes in USDA Food Composition Data for 43 Garden Crops, 1950 to 1999,” Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 2004.
2. Corilee Watters, “The Nutrition Benefits of Eating Locally,” Hānai’Ai / The Food Provider, Western Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education, 2013.
3. Kathleen Frith, “Is Local More Nutritious? It Depends,” Harvard School of Public Health, 2007.
4. Ashley E. Larsen, “Agricultural pesticide use and adverse birth outcomes in the San Joaquin Valley of California,” Nature Communications, 29 August 2017.
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