When it comes to organic produce, which fruits and vegetables really matter? The two lists below show you which way to go when you hit the grocery store. According to the Environmental Working Group (via CNN) there are 12 items on the produce aisle which may contain so many chemicals organic is the only way to go (how’s 67 different pesticides on your celery sound?). [ad#[1]]The same group also provides a list of the “Clean 15”, produce which generally has little to no pesticide residue, meaning the extra cost of buying organic may not be necessary.
The Dirty Dozen
- Celery
- Peaches
- Strawberries
- Apples
- Domestic blueberries
- Nectarines
- Sweet bell peppers
- Spinach, kale and collard greens
- Cherries
- Potatoes
- Imported grapes
- Lettuce
The Clean 15
- Onions
- Avocados
- Sweet corn
- Pineapples
- Mango
- Sweet peas
- Asparagus
- Kiwi fruit
- Cabbage
- Eggplant
- Cantaloupe
- Watermelon
- Grapefruit
- Sweet potatoes
- Sweet onions
The Environmental Working Group provides both a printable wallet card as well as an iPhone app to help you remember which is which. You can download both at: www.foodnews.org
The CNN article via the transcendlife twitter feed
Creative Commons image courtesy of scrapbooklady
