While most of us agree that organic produce is healthier in general simply because it is grown without enormous amounts of pesticides, it’s not always easy (or cheap) to buy organic. So what fruits and vegetables present the most danger, and where can you save your money?
The non-profit Environmental Working Group developed a list of 43 fruits and vegetables ranked from the dirtiest to the cleanest, based on the results of 43,000 tests for pesticides. Their data assumes typical washing and food preparation (including peeling). While they recommend going organic whenever possible, here’s the short list to take with you on your next shopping trip. Complete information is available at http://www.foodnews.org and http://www.ewg.org
Dirty Dozen
Always buy organic
Peaches
Apples
Sweet Bell Peppers
Celery
Nectarines
Strawberries
Cherries
Pears
Grapes (imported)
Spinach
Lettuce
Potatoes
Cleanest 12
Lowest in Pesticides
Onions
Avocado
Sweet Corn (frozen)
Pineapples
Mango
Asparagus
Sweet Peas (frozen)
Kiwi Fruit
Bananas
Cabbage
Broccoli
Papaya
Ideal Bite adds the following foods to the “always buy organic” list: wheat, green beans and winter squash. Delicious Organics (deliciousorganics.com) also adds raspberries, grape products (raisins and juice), lemons (especially when zesting), cucumbers and lettuce.
Previous Comments
“I’d rather pay the grocer than the doctor.” So I remind myself when paying higher prices for organic vegetables.
#84908 | Author: Brent Cox | Date: May 7 2007
The Mississippi Free Press produced this story through the MFP Solutions Lab, supported by the Solutions Journalism Network. This series digs into Mississippi’s systemic issues and sheds light on responses to them in other communities. Beyond just reporting on problems, these stories interrogate their causes and inspect potential solutions.
