by Erin Hynes
Ideally, everyone would eat organic produce only. But the premium prices on organic fruit and vegetables makes an all-organic diet out of reach for many consumers. To help consumers spend their organic-produce budget wisely — and to help gardeners decide what to grow at home — the Environmental Working Group has compiled the Shopper's Guide to Pesticides. The sixth edition of the guide was released in April, 2010, and is based on 96,000 tests for pesticide residue. The guide lists the 12 fruits and vegetables to eat organic because they're most likely to have pesticide residue. It also lists produce that reaches the market with little residue, even when grown on conventional farms. The updated Shopper's Guide to Pesticides is available as a wallet-size PDF and an iPhone application.
Not surprisingly, the fruit and vegetables that contain the most pesticides are the ones that are heavily treated with pesticides because they're prone to attack from insects and diseases. They're also the ones with exposed edible portions, such as celery and grapes. Conversely, the safest produce is naturally pest-free, or has a peel that protects the edible portion. The Environmental Working Group recommends rinsing all produce before eating.
| 12 Worst, in Order | 15 Cleanest | |
| 1. Celery 2. Peaches 3. Strawberries 4. Apples 5. Blueberries 6. Nectarines 7. Bell peppers 8. Spinach 9. Kale 10. Cherries 11. Potatoes 12. Grapes, imported |
1. Onion 2. Avocado 3. Sweet corn 4. Pineapple 5. Mango 6. Sweet peas 7. Asparagus 8. Kiwi 9. Cabbage 10. Eggplant 11. Cantaloupe 12. Watermelon 13. Grapefruit 14. Sweet potato 15. Honeydew melon |
Erin Hynes is the managing editor for Manage My Life. She authored several books about organic gardening for Rodale Press and now plans to grow celery this year.
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