Confused about when to buy organic?

​Buying organic is a smart choice to reduce your exposure to harmful pesticides, herbicides, and other poisonous agricultural chemicals, which are a major source of the toxins to which we are exposed.
The Environmental Working Group states: “people can lower their pesticide exposure by almost 80% by avoiding the top twelve most contaminated fruits and vegetables and eating the least contaminated instead.”

Ranked in order from greatest to least pesticide loads, these are the top 12 fruits and vegetables to buy organic.

Dirty Dozen: Buy Organic

1. Apples
2. Celery
3. Strawberries
4. Peaches
5. Spinach
6. Nectarines – Imported
7. Grapes – Imported
8. Sweet Bell Peppers
9. Potatoes
10. Blueberries – domestic
11. Lettuce
12. Kale/Collard Greens

Ranked in order from least to greatest pesticide loads, these are the top 15 fruits and vegetables that are safe to buy conventionally (non-organic).

“Clean 15”: Optional to Buy Organic

1. Onions
2. Sweet Corn
3. Pineapples
4. Avocado
5. Asparagus
6. Sweet Peas
7. Mangos
8. Eggplant
9. Cantaloupe – domestic
10. Kiwi
11. Cabbage
12. Watermelon
13. Sweet Potatoes
14. Grapefruit
15. Mushrooms

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