Download March 13 2017

“Pesticide list, the
Dirty Dozen and
Clean Fifteen”
An annual report by the Environmental Working Group
found that nearly 70% of samples of 48 types of
conventionally grown produce were contaminated with
pesticide residues. Pesticides are widely used in
producing food to control pests such as insects,
rodents, weeds, bacteria, mold and fungus. Pesticides
are potentially toxic to humans, according to the World
Health Organization. They may have negative effects
on reproduction, immune or nervous systems, cause
cancer and lead to other problems. Pesticide residue
can remain on fruits and vegetables even after they are
washed and, in some cases, peeled, according to the
report. Produce that tested positive for various
pesticides and contained higher concentrations of
pesticides than other produce is featured on the list,
known as the "Dirty Dozen." Produce that had
relatively fewer pesticides and lower total
concentrations of pesticide residues was placed on the
group's "Clean Fifteen" list.
In Other News
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Grocery delivery startup Instacart has bagged a fresh $400
million from investors. Instacart, which is based in San Francisco,
is an on-demand service that has workers shop for groceries on
behalf of customers and deliver them to their doorstep. With the
new round of financing, led by Sequoia Capital, the company is
valued at $3.4 billion. It currently operates in 35 markets, and in
the announcement Wednesday, said it expects to double that this
year. Instacart has 135 partnerships with grocery retailers around
the country, including chains like Whole Foods and Costco.
https://www.instacart.com/grocery-delivery/philadelphia
The National Park Service recorded a record-breaking 331 million
visits during the National Park Service's centennial year in 2016,
a 7.7% increase. It was the park service's third consecutive alltime attendance record. There are 417 sites in the National Park
Service. Golden Gate National Recreation Area was the most
popular national park site, attracting more than 15.6 million
visitors last year, followed by Blue Ridge Parkway (15.2 million),
Great Smoky Mountains National Park (11.3 million) and George
Washington Memorial Parkway (10.3 million).