Small farmers can indeed buy and use pesticides and most do. If there isn’t a sign or label saying something like “pesticide free” or “organic” you should assume that pesticides were probably used. Produce size isn’t influenced by pesticides, only available water/nutrients in the soil. Plant spacing makes a huge difference as well. More room between plants allows the fruit to become bigger. For example: Carrots that are planted close together produce smaller carrots but more of them. Wide spacing between the plants produces large carrots but fewer total carrots. It’s great buying from small farmers but I ALWAYS ask about pesticides.
%% LOOKED into[OO] USDA Official '' Organic''= super strict; required a year of 2 between no chemicals NO ,chem fertilizer.................................. SO its super strict; + I like some Miracle Grow\ but that also is not a allowed LOL. Also best IF or when a neighbor wants you to get some greens ...........; bug bites are good sign. [THEY dont eat much /even off non chemical greens...................................NO SPRAYED fruit actually cause stress in a some fruit + more flavor. So Its complex
https://www.seedworld.com/europe/2018/04/30/sense-nonsense-science-pesticide-concerns/ https://www.artsandopinion.com/2005_v4_n3/schwarcz-3.htm
%% 100% sure homegrown fruit + veggies taste better+ most likely/ more healthy. Animal fertilizer is safe for 100% sure; but with common sense............................................... BUT he is right, not enough organic farmers to get the job done; Miracle Grow is not allowed for ''Organic'', so too bad we dont all live in the Garden of Eden, or eat out of garden LOL
Some more info for you. The USDA Organic program is a value added program for farmers. It’s not there to protect consumers from pesticides, it’s there to create a value added market for farmers. The USDA owns the word and you can’t use it on a product label unless you have certification. There’s lots of differing opinions about synthetic fertilizer but the program is simpler just banning all synthetic substances. Animal manure. It’s great fertilizer but it has risks, especially if you’re using it in your garden. It needs to be applied at least 90 days prior to harvesting any of the crop. If it has E. Coli or salmonella in it time is needed for the crop to be safe to eat. Farms irrigating from surface was are at a higher risk because animals sometimes get loose and contaminate the water source close to harvest.
%% GOOD INFO+ health help; good thing they dont try to own the word ''homegrown '' LOL NOt sure it has much risk @ all if one use last years aged[weaker] stuff. Of course like my banker dads organic books noted, green manure as stuff like hay, better because it has not passed thru any animal. Don't know if that's scalable on commercial. Organic tends to be lower volume + higher prices Homegrown+ organic tends to taste better/most likely better health. Of course some have been caught cheating on organic standards......
I eat 30 Carbs a day. I haven't eaten any fruits since 2006. Of course I'm a Type 2 diabetic. I also don't eat flour, starch or any other form of sugar.
%% I try to avoid white rice-white flour[not a racial statement LOL]; that junk turns to sugar, as fast a rabbit runs . Fruit + whole wheat works slower + better I try to avoid 64oz orange juice @ a slurp ; but [2x8]=16 0z; =2]200%ofRDA vit C+ 220 calories +/works well for me/good lunch for me .............................................