Pesticide are used to ensure a successful crop. There are misconceptions about the negative effect of consuming produce touched by pesticide.

Fruits and vegetables may have residue of pesticide on the skin, but that does not make it harmful. As the products are harvested and move through many steps the pesticide residue is lessened. The remaining amount can be washed off and it will not cause harm. Fruits and vegetable with thin skin may be more affected, but as it is washed and cooked it will be safe to consume.

The EPA regulates and tests pesticides for safety before they are released to the market.

Source: www.epa.gov/safepestcontrol/food-and-pesticides

So much of the food we are blessed with end up in our trash bags. We throw away about a quarter of our grocery purchases. This may be because we miscalculate how much food we need, or we fail to preserve our foods well before they spoil.

One issue may be the dates that are stamped onto our food packages. “Sell by” dates are not definite. Food that has passed the expiration date may not be expired–but we throw them away. The may not be the best of quality at that time, but it may still be safe to eat.

Other causes of throwing away foods may be related to planning. We may buy many food products that we will not eat, on a whim. Or we may miscalculate how much of one product we will eat. We may serve too much food which will go uneaten and thus throw away large portions.

The source article cites a research which shows that the generations of people who have experienced the Great Depression and World War 2, and the people of third world countries, waste a large percentage less than the average American. If we are more careful and aware of our habits we can definitely control how much of our food ends up in the trash.

It is inevitable that we will have food waste, but if we are more careful we can greatly lower our amount of trashed food.

Source: www.nrdc.org/sites/default/files/wasted-food-IP.pdf

The modern version of aquaponics has been developed fairly recently, and this system is increasingly being used. Within New York City, there are three aquaponic farms. The benefits of using this system to raise fish and grow edible greens is being recognized. Aquaponics allows the water to be reused, uses fish excrements as fertilizer and plant food instead of chemical fertilizers, and removes complications of using soil such as certain diseases and weeds. These are only a few of the benefits of using the aquaponics farming system.

Aquaponics may be a good system if it is carried out in a large-scale manner. For home uses, it is almost impossible. A good aquaponics system will require a green house, or a glassed in area that allows sunlight, and allows the temperature and humidity to be controlled. There needs to be a constant supply of energy to be used to control the temperature and to run the water. The farm needs to be supervised to make sure everything is running smoothly and safely.

With all of these complications, aquaponics is not meant to be used for home gardens. For commercial use, it may be a good choice, for the positives of aquaponics listed above. Observations also show that leafy greens grown in an aquaponics system grow faster. Aquaponics farms in the city also allow fresh vegetables to be sold within the city, as large traditional farms may not be possible. It is an alternate method, that can ultimately benefit the people of the city.