Residues for the sweet

Yet another reason to hate on Valentine's Day, scourge of the single, boon to the greeting-card companies:

Unless you have been living under a rock for a while, you have probably already read the news stories about the frightening amounts of nasty pesticides used by the cut-flower industry, especially in Colombia, which produces the majority of the world's cut flowers.

So what can you do about it? You could get your sweetie some fair-trade certified organic chocolates instead. Or take her/him to dinner at a swanky local restaurant that specializes in locally-grown foods. Massages and days at the spa tend to be good for the environment and workers, as well.

But if it just isn't Valentine's Day without some long-stemmed roses, check your local grocer for organic flowers certified by Veri-Flora, an international organization that certifies organic flower growers. Personally, I like to buy my bouquets in season at the local farmer's market - which means skipping the flowers on Valentine's Day. As long as I still get the chocolates...