In the News Reading and Writing: Basic/Low Intermediate Natasha Haugnes Beth Maher Unit 7: Organic Produce: Is It Worth the Price? There have been recent reports of the ongoing debate over organic food production methods versus commercial farming practices. For example, the question of whether certain "organic chemicals" used as pesticides are any less harmful than manufactured ones still remains unanswered. Unit 9: The Winter Blues USA Today (August 26, 1999) reported the results of what is believed to be the first study to track normal adults through the change of seasons to detect mood alterations. Results show that adults are happiest during summer months and most miserable during the winter months. Spring and fall produce moods that fall somewhere in between those of summer and spring. Of 329 questioned in the study, 43 demonstrated no significant variations, 17 had seasonal affective disorder, and others showed fairly small changes in levels of anger, irritability and anxiety. Seasonal diet and exercise changes and light deprivation in winter could all help to explain mood changes.