Organic. What exactly does that mean? Hi there from Kelly’s Kitchen. Ann Kelly posing that question thanks to a few of you that I’ve discussed that with. Here’s what the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) says; they’ve created an organic seal. “Foods bearing it are required to be grown, harvested, and processed according to national standards that include restrictions on amounts and residues of pesticides, hormones, and antibiotics”

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), "organic foods cannot be treated with any synthetic pesticides, sewage sludge, bioengineering, or ionizing radiation. They may use pesticides derived from a natural source.”

Now that we’ve cleared that up, how about the cost? You’ve probably read and heard the same stories I have over the last few weeks that just trying to eat a healthier diet, let alone an organic one, can add almost $400 a year to your food budget. The USDA recently created what they consider to be a simpler version of the traditional Food Pyramid, that they call MyPlate, which they created over a two year period. We’ll hear from Dr. Robert Post soon in Kelly's Kitchen to talk about how they’re working schools to on this new program.

But what if we could add some convenience to the organic shopping experience? A new company in the Bay area is offering at-home delivery of organic fruits and vegetables, Jessica Papish from Tampa Bay Organics joined me in Kelly’s Kitchen to talk about their service, along with the cost and delivery area. Kind of hard to make an excuse for not eating healthy when someone is bringing it right to your home or office! Check their site for more information at www.tampabayorganics.com.

Words of Wisdom from Kelly’s Kitchen:

Nature is not a place to visit, it is home. –Gary Snyder