Is organic pesticide-free?

Dear Editor:

Nancy Minitie’s excellent article about possible pesticide exposure on organic produce is an eye-opener.

As consumers, we rely on the conventional meaning of words that describe food. We also like to believe that the purpose of government agencies is to protect the consumer, when actually those agencies have to balance the interests of many including consumers, farmers, agribusiness and even the government itself. 

No one will care more about your health than you do. We each get to make choices about the vegetables we eat. Low- cost convenient choices can be found in supermarkets everywhere, but those vegetables may come with pesticides that may lead to health problems. Organic vegetables are increasingly available but, as her article shows, consumers relying on that term may not be purchasing the safe vegetables they think they are.

I have eaten many pounds of vegetables from Uncommon Good. They are fabulous. Astonishingly fresh and bursting with flavor. You have to wind through the campus of United Methodist on Foothill to find the beautiful super adobe building where Uncommon Good operates, but it is well worth the journey. This is a wonderful opportunity for Claremont shoppers. Do not deny yourself the delight of excellent vegetables. Make good choices. You deserve the best.

Nora Quinn 

Claremont

The benefits of greater equality

Dear Editor:

When I recently saw a comparison between the income of hedge fund operators and kindergarten teachers, I was reminded of the upcoming second forum on economic inequality to be held at Rose Hills Theatre on the Pomona College campus at 7 p.m. next Tuesday, March 31.

In 2013, the four highest paid hedge fund operators on Wall Street earned a combined $10.4 billion, while the roughly 158 thousand kindergarten teachers in the United States earned a combined $8.3 billion. But then, of course, we tax teachers at a higher rate since what they earn is classified as salary; it doesn’t qualify as capitol gains.

Some people think there is a zeitgeist developing that will put us back on the road to greater fairness, believing as Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett demonstrate convincingly in their excellent book, The Spirit Level, that “greater equality makes societies stronger.”

I worry that not enough people have read the book or looked at relevant data, but I also know people can make great changes with persistent effort. After all, it only took about 70 years to convince American men that women deserved the right to vote.

Sally Seven

Claremont