As we move into 2025, many worry that real science may take a back seat as proponents of pseudo-science become more prominent.  The Alliance for Food and Farming (AFF) is among the worriers. Because those pushing unscientific, fear-based messaging about fruits and vegetables will have even more allies with a megaphone to media and consumers in 2025.

In addition to spreading common themes inaccurately impugning the safety of conventionally grown produce, these groups also engage in promoting misinformation or exaggerations regarding farming practices, nutrition, food, vaccines, and disease prevention that may negatively impact public health.

One of the consequences of this scientific sea change may be more and louder tactics from these groups as they continue their efforts to scare consumers away from affordable and accessible fruits and vegetables that decades of real science has shown are safe and healthy. Their work also strives to take away consumer choice in the produce aisle with their “only organic” stance.

Look, if you want to promote organic produce consumption, that’s great.  We do too.  But don’t take a “marketing against” approach using inaccurate statements about residues. This is not only disingenuous but its harmful as well.  Peer reviewed research shows that when low income consumers are exposed to this type of messaging, they state they are less likely to purchase any produce – organic or conventional.  How does this help public health?

What decades of real science shows is that conventionally grown fruits and vegetables are among the food groups health experts everywhere recommend we eat more of every day to prevent diseases, improve health and increase lifespan.  However, despite the longtime efforts of health and nutrition experts to increase consumption, only one in 10 of us consume enough fruits and vegetables each day.

This is why we cannot let safety fears become a bigger barrier than it already is to increasing produce consumption and improving diets.

As a small non-profit, the AFF has been successful in reassuring consumers about the safety of all produce by sharing peer reviewed studies and academic analyses.  And, going against well-connected and exceptionally well-funded groups is nothing new for us.  But we are facing a sea change.  We hope we can weather it.

Read, learn, choose but eat more organic and conventionally grown produce every day.