Organic Lemon Crop (© photo by Lisa Solonynko, courtesy of morguefile.com)

By our count there have now been at least 6 studies establishing a link between pesticides and Parkinson disease. We just read about the latest study from an article published by BBC News. Scientists from Duke University, Miami University and the Udall Parkinson's Disease Research Center of Excellence “found those exposed to pesticides had a 1.6 times higher risk” of suffering from the debilitating disease.

Providing American families with the option of enjoying food raised without pesticides has been one the great achievements of the organic farmers movement. The great demand for organic foods by consumers is a wonderfully promising trend for the American food system. Along with quests for more flavor and better nutritional value, the desire to avoid pesticides has been a key driver of the demand for organics.

Still, there’s a long way to go to overcome decades of unhealthy practices driven by the industrial food system. We can all play a part in creating a healthier and more sustainable food system by demanding that our food be raised without toxic pesticides. Our bodies, our planet, and our children will be the beneficiaries.

If you’d like to read the BBC News article cited above go to: Pesticide Parkinson's link strong