When to Buy Organic
Americans, in 2006, spent $16.7 billion on organic foods, most often fruits and vegetables. Frequently, the organic produce costs a bit more that the conventionally produced produce, so you may want to start making the switch with those fruits and vegetables that are most likely to harbor pesticide residues when grown by conventional methods.
The Organic Center has called out and ranked 8 fruits and 8 vegetables that carry the highest risk- index scores , which take into account the level of pesticides detected on domestic produce and the pesticides’ toxicity.
The list includes:
Cranberries Green Beans
Nectarines Sweet Bell Peppers
Peaches Celery
Strawberries Cucumbers
Pears Potatoes
Apples Tomatoes
Cherries Peas
Cantaloupe Lettuce
There is less of a need to buy organic versions of other produce, especially bananas, citrus fruits, onions, and pineapples, whose outer skins we do not eat.
Please note that imported, conventionally grown fruits and vegetables- particularly cucumbers, grapes, lettuce, nectarines, peaches, and bell peppers- may harbor far higher residues than homegrown counterparts. Even imports labeled organic might be cause for caution because some countries have less-reliable regulatory oversight than in the U.S.
So when you can Go Organic and when you can’t, look for product that is grown close to home. Support your local farmers at farmers’ markets, farm stands, and in the local grocery stores that carry their product.
