Very informative, it seems that we have to keep watch, alert at all times, our enemy is not from abroad, but in our backyard. JAM

yes, very good article. I would like a few more tips please that will help weed out the bad. I had no idea about the harlequin bugs and broccoli. What else can I ask if there is no broccoli? I live up north and offering broccoli in winter is an easy give away for it not being local. Luckily the farm I buy at most of the time is smack in the middle of their lush and very productive fields. Their own broccoli looks very different from the common store variety. They label everything that is grown on their farm, so easy to spot. They use no fertilizers, only their own compost, and instead of pesticides they use a soap based wash. Not certified organic, but close to it. Good people. Great produce.

The article opened my eyes more. I thought I could spot the fake and dishonest but realized I need to learn more, thanks for the article!
Here in Australia is fast getting like in the U.S. but not quite that sophisticated yet. We have misrepresentation, blatant lies, defensiveness and rudeness when asked for evidence or address to check out, home made photographs enlarged on display showing poultry free range sitting on anything or pecking on grass. It was an free range eggs vendor who said I could not visit the farm it is 80 kilometers from here. I told him no problem for me. Then he said I would not be let in because I may carry diseases putting the business at risk. I said I will change into a bio-safe overall and footwear. He then said it is government regulation the public can not enter. Of course there was something to hide.- A week ago visited a local farmers market, a mixed bag of dishonest and legitimate sellers. Stopped at a stall to buy free range eggs, A nice display of the paddock and the birds, I asked the lady if agreed one day I want to visit. She did gladly, gave me the details. I complimented her being the first who was truthful after telling her my previous experience. I said I want all y friends who value their health to get their eggs there, she deserves to be supported. The eggs more expensive but not primitively so but the commercial battery hen product are very low priced in some outfit and midway between in the supermarkets.
Organic fruit and vegetable shops or stalls often have wilted stock, one shop carelessly left the big bag of onions visible the source details revealing it was the same as the one in the other non organic shops. The price jacked up 8 times!
One way to test if the shop sells genuine organic, pesticide-free produce is trying to buy a sample and test it with someone with severe enough allergy like my daughter had at the time we needed to get clean produce. Her reactions or otherwise decided which is the genuine outfit.

Be well!

joseph.

Thanks for warning us. It is always good to be aware. I would love to know is there any way to distinguish pesticide-free fruits, veggies and berries (strawberries for example) from contaminated ones.

Aloelf,

Thanks for your comment. The Environmental Working Group is an excellent resource when it comes to identifying what frutis and vegetables are most likely to be contaminated with pesticides. I also wrote about this issue in Top 12 Toxic Fruits and Veggies.

Thanks for the warning. I have always felt that much of the fresh
produce sold at open air markets was suspect and expensive to
boot. This is good investigating! These people are just preying
on people's desire to improve their health and most of us are so
naive as to believe a "farmer" just wouldn't run a scam. In this
day and age it seems that scams rule!