A recent survey found that buying local and organic produce is a top priority for shoppers, but it can sometimes be difficult to tell whether the food on Canadian shelves is either.
One issue is that the demand is so high for organic produce that some items are being shipped in from overseas, leaving many consumers unsure whether what they're buying is local.
Reacting to the confusion, Nicholas Scapillati launched Farm Folk, City Folk, a non-profit that helps local farmers sell their goods.
"If you're buying Canadian products, there's a level of trust people have," Scapillati said.
Depending on the store, customers can sometimes look for labels or stickers that say where the produce was grown.
Another way to figure out where produce is from is to consider which fruits and vegetables grow at that time of year.
In June, B.C. residents can expect local cherries, raspberries and blueberries. Cabbage, broccoli, basil, peas and onions all grow in June and the rest of the summer, among other vegetables.
When it comes to making sure your food is organic, Scapillati recommends that shoppers look for the circular green, red and white symbol reading "Canada Organic, Biologique Canada," which specifies that a product is organically certified.
Scapillati said locally-grown produce is generally more flavourful, and more nutritious.
"Buying produce in-season is the best way for you to make your food dollar go further," he said.
"One of the most important things about eating in-season, buying locally, and whenever possible, buying organic, is that you're supporting a local food economy."
But when you can't buy local, in-season produce, there are other things shoppers can look for to avoid pesticides. According to the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the average American has traces of 29 pesticides in their body.
"We're exposed to a cocktail of chemicals from our food on a daily basis," said Michael Crupain, director of Consumer Reports' Food Safety and Sustainability Center.
Products labeled "organic" are less likely to have come in contact with chemicals, but can cost as much as 50 per cent more. For shoppers who aren't sure whether you want to fork over the extra cash, Consumer Reports has published an interactive guide to produce sorted by "risk level."
The guide lets users click through different fruits and vegetables, ranking them by lowest to highest risk of coming in contact with pesticides.
For example, hot peppers from the U.S. and Mexico are rated high to very high, and worth spending more for organic. Asparagus from the same areas are only a moderate risk.
Sweet potatoes from the U.S. are another example of a high risk, while cucumbers from Canada are considered low.
Whether buying organic or not, experts recommend rinsing fruit and vegetables to get rid of dirt and bacteria. Rinsing can also get rid of some pesticide residue, but some chemicals are soaked up by the plants' roots and can't be removed.
