The Dirty Dozen - Organic Produce Buyer's Guide

     Buying organic produce makes so much sense: fewer fossil fuels are used in its production; growers, pickers, packers, and consumers are not exposed to toxic chemicals; nutritionists suggest organic diets help prevent cancer; and the biological balance of our insect world is less impacted.  When organic produce is not readily available or price constraints force us to choose which organic products to buy, The Organic Buyer’s Guide (http://static.foodnews.org/pdf/EWG-shoppers-guide.pdf) is a valuable resource.  It offers the “Dirty dozen”—produce that exposes us to the most pesticides, and the fifteen foods that contain the fewest pesticides.  The full list of 49 products (rated from least to most pesticides) can be viewed at http://www.foodnews.org/fulllist.php.

Buy These Organic

Celery

Peaches

Strawberries

Apples

Blueberries

Nectarines

Bell Peppers

Spinach

Cherries

Kale/Collard

Greens

Potatoes

Grapes (Imported)

 Lowest in Pesticides

Onions

Avocado

Sweet Corn

Pineapple

Mangos

Sweet Peas

Asparagus

Kiwi

Cabbage

Eggplant

Cantaloupe

Watermelon

Grapefruit

Sweet Potato

Honeydew

Melon

 SmartMoney.com's Senior Consumer Reporter, Kelli Grant, 

gives advice on how to buy organic while staying within a budget.