East County News Service

August 14, 2015 (San Diego)—Fruits, nuts, and other crops including some sold as organic have been grown using irrigation from oil fracking wastewater laced with toxins in drought-stricken California.

Now some consumer advocacy groups including Food & Water Watch are calling for a halt to the practice.  Courage Campaign has launched a petition for consumers to pledge that they won’t buy food products grown with oil wastewater, or what Courage Campaign calls “toxic sludge.”

 A shocking investigation by Mother Jones magazine reveals that oil wastewater has reportedly been sold to 90 landowners in Southern California, including Bee Sweet Citrus and  Halos, a citrus company which has the slogan “pure goodness” and Sunview, which sells grapes and raisins including some certified as organic.  Another company reportedly irrigating with oil wastewater is Trinchero Family Estates, which supplies grapes for winemakers including Sutter Home.

By Janis Mork

February 19, 2013 (El Cajon)- The International Rescue Committee has partnered with Kaiser Permanente in El Cajon to open up a community garden for El Cajon residents, who wish to become gardeners by filling out a contract, to grow their food.

Anne Barron, community garden coordinator, gave ECM a tour of the garden, which is expected to open up in mid-March. The community garden is located at 203 Travelodge Drive in El Cajon. 

Organic foods have lower pesticide residues, lower chance for antibiotic-resistant bacteria

September 8, 2012 (Washington, D.C.)—A review article published September in the Annals of Internal Medicine confirms that consuming organic foods reduces consumers’ exposure to pesticide residues and to bacteria resistant to antibiotics, the Organic Trade Association (OTA) notes. These are among the top reasons consumers cite for choosing to buy organic products.

Flowers, herbs and other plants on sale to public

June 2, 2011 (El Cajon) -- St. Madeline Sophie's Center how has a Certified Organic Garden program that includes a full citrus orchard, flower gardens, a passive-solar greenhouse, a propagation house, ornamental trees, shrubs, herbs, and a worm farm.

The Garden Program cultivates more than strong, healthy plants; it is a vocational training ground where professional horticulture managers help students reap the benefits of developing physical and mental skills, social relationships, teamwork, self-esteem, and a sense of community and accomplishment.