What Produce Should You Buy Organic – The Dirty Dozen
The Environmental Workers Group just released their new list of the "Dirty Dozen," the 12 fruits and veggies that have the most pesticide residue. Learn what produce you should be buying organic and what are the "Clean Fifteen," with the least amount of residue.
In the past few years, buying organic fruits and veggies has gotten more and more popular. But the problem with buying organic is that you have to shell out a lot more money for these higher priced items. So what fruits and veggies are best to be bought organic? And which can you get away with buying the regular version.
Here are the "Dirty Dozen" fruits and veggies that you should buy organic:
- Apples - 80% of apples sold in the United States were contaminated with a chemical to make the skin bright with no spots
- Celery
- Cherry Tomatoes
- Cucumbers
- Grapes
- Nectarines
- Peaches
- Potatoes
- Snap Peas
- Spinach
- Strawberries
- Sweet Bell Peppers
- Honorable Mentions - hot peppers, kale and collared greens (contained insecticides known to cause nervous system damage)
Along with the Dirty Dozen, here are the "Clean Fifteen", fruits and veggies you don't have to necessarily buy organic:
- Asparagus
- Avocados
- Cabbage
- Cantaloupe
- Cauliflower
- Eggplant
- Grapefruit
- Kiwi
- Mangos
- Onions
- Papayas
- Pineapple
- Sweet Corn
- Sweet Peas
- Sweet Potatoes