Organic Vs. Conventional Produce
Organic or conventional? Which should you choose? We know that buying and eating organic can be pricey! Organic produce can sometimes double your bill at checkout and even per sway you to buy conventional instead.
Unlike conventionally grown produce, organic produce has strict regulations against the use of synthetic pesticides. Choosing organic produce reduces exposure to these chemicals, but you don’t have to buy organic all the time; some produce is more likely to have pesticide residue than others.
To help prioritize your organic shopping, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) releases lists of the most and least pesticide-contaminated produce each year based on extensive laboratory testing. By simply avoiding the conventionally cultivated food included on the “Dirty Dozen” list, you can drastically reduce your exposure to pesticides. If you don’t buy organic, use the “Clean Fifteen” list to help guide your produce purchases.
The Dirty DozenTM is the EWG’s list of the most contaminated fruits and vegetables. Purchasing these foods organic is said to significantly cut down on pesticide exposure. These are the foods that are best purchased organically. The Dirty Dozen PlusTM includes other vegetables that may not be as high in overall pesticide content but contain small levels of highly toxic pesticides.
Strawberries
Peaches
Apples
Nectarines
Celery
Grapes
Cherries
Spinach
Tomato
Sweet Bell Pepper
Cherry tomatoes
Cucumbers
Hot Peppers
Kale/Collard Greens
The Clean FifteenTM are the EMG’s 15 least contaminated fruits and vegetables. These are the foods with the least amount of detected pesticides. These foods can be purchased conventionally, if you don’t want to purchase organic all the time.
Avocados
Sweet Corn
Pineapples
Cabbage
Sweet Peas
Onions
Asparagus
Mangoes
Papayas
Kiwi
Eggplant
Honeydew Melon
Grapefruit
Cantaloupe
Cauliflower
Remember: It is always better to eat fruits and veggies regardless of how they are grown rather than not eat them at all!!
