To Buy or Not To Buy – That is the Question

There are a lot of good reasons to choose locally grown, organic produce when possible. Those fruits and vegetables that have traveled the globe to get here usually are picked early and ripened through a chemical process. Others have to be treated so they do not spoil before reaching your grocer’s shelves. The perfectly round peaches, straight as an arrow carrots, or no blemishes on apples have to be heavily treated to avoid the pests or disease that like to eat them right before being picked. Organic food is admittedly more expensive. If you want to maximize the good you do to your body while minimizing the cost, you could choose to purchase organic produce for the fruits and vegetables which tend to have the most pesticides in the United States. It is estimated that if a consumer avoids eating non-organically grown produce in the top 12 ("Dirty Dozen") on this list, pesticide exposure can be reduced by up to 80%. This list was compiled by the Environmental Working Group.  Bear in mind that there are many fruits and vegetables that are not on this list -- these were chosen because they are most commonly eaten. EWG analyzed pesticide residue testing data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Food and Drug Administration to come up with the rankings for these popular produce items. All foods are listed from worst to best.   (lower number =more pesticides)

1. Apples

2. Strawberries

3. Grapes

4. Celery

5. Peaches

6. Spinach

7. Sweet Bell Peppers

8. Nectarines – imported

9. Cucumbers

10. Cherry tomatoes

11. Snap Peas – imported

12. Potatoes

13. Hot Peppers

14. Blueberries – domestic

15. Lettuce

16. Kale/ Collard Greens

17. Plums

18. Cherries

19. Nectarines – domestic

20. Pears

21. Tangerines

22. Carrots

23. Blueberries – imported

24. Green Beans

25. Winter Squash

26. Summer Squash

27. Raspberries

28. Broccoli

29. Snap Peas – Domestic

30. Green onions

31. Oranges

32. Bananas

33. Tomatoes

34. Watermelon

35. Honeydew Melons

36. Mushrooms

37. Sweet Potatoes

38. Cauliflower

39. Cantaloupe

40. Grapefruit

41. Eggplant

42. Kiwi

43. Papayas

44. Mangoes

45. Asparagus

46. Onions

47. Sweet Peas – frozen

48. Cabbage

49. Pineapples

50. Sweet Corn

51. Avocados

If cost is a concern as you start your change to healthy eating and living. Use this list. If you purchase any items from the top of the list, pick these from the organic section of your store. Better yet support your local Farmer’s markets and buy fresh right from the source. You can talk to the farmer who grew your fruits and veggies for all the information about their products. Many of these farmers will gladly help you buy the best for your family’s needs. To your best health, Coach Nancy