Unlike other “exotic” coffees of world, La Minita is in this category for one reason: QUALITY! I once spent a few days with a farmer from Jamaica who wanted to increase his crop. When he was told how to make his coffee better, he replied: “I can sell every bean I can grow for $17.00 a pound; all I want to do is get more production”. Unfortunately this is often case in exotics. Jamaican Blue Mountain, Hawaiian Kona and other exotics demand high prices but way too often do not deliver cup. LaMinita sells for far less than Jamaican and Kona and is always a superb coffee at a reasonable price. Visit La Minita web site at: www.laminita.com . This article is written by Jim Cameron without permission of La Minita and expresses only opinions of Author on what he believes to be best value coffee in world. To purchase this coffee green to roast at home, contact: www.u-roast-em.com . To purchase this coffee roasted, contact your local coffee roaster or coffee shop.

Can washing of produce help get rid of pesticides? Not really. The fruits and vegetables tested by USDA PDP (*) are “prepared emulating practices of average consumer” before testing for pesticides. That is: “(1) apples are washed with stems and cores removed; (2) asparagus and spinach have inedible portions removed and are washed; (3) cantaloupes are cut in half and seed and rinds are removed; […] and (9) tomatoes are washed and stems removed”.

Washing before consuming is highly recommended because helps decrease pesticide residues present on surface of vegetables, but majorities of pollutants are absorbed into plant and can’t be just washed away. Some pesticides are specifically created to stick to surface of crops and they don’t come out by washing. Peeling can help eliminating some of chemicals but not all, and a lot of important substances will be discarded with skin.

So, on one hand we have to eat plenty of fruit and vegetables for a healthy diet, and on other hand we have to reduce as much a possible intake of pesticides. What to do if you are unconvinced by claims of chemical companies that certain levels of pesticides are not dangerous?

We have very few options to defend ourselves: (1) Wash all vegetables and fruit very well; (2) Change eating habits in order to consume more of produce with low pollutants; (3) Consume a diet as varied as possible; (4) Buy organic foods.