Having an Organic Panic?

Do you want to buy organic, but fear it’s too expensive?
Don’t fret! Not everything has high levels of pesticide contamination.

The Daily Green recently published a “dirty dozen” list of foods that are recommended to be purchased organic along with a list of foods that are okay to buy conventional. Check it out here.

Here is one interesting fact from the article:

"If consumers get their USDA-recommended 5 daily servings of fruits and veggies from the 15 most contaminated, they could consume an average of 10 pesticides a day. Those who eat the 15 least contaminated conventionally grown produce ingest less than 2 pesticides daily."

In short, buy these organic if you can: (It’s more than a dozen. Don’t ask me!)
Meat
Milk
Coffee beans
Celery
Peaches
Strawberries
Apples
Blueberries
Peas
Nectarines
Bell peppers
Spinach
Kale
Cherries
Potatoes
Leafy Greens
Carrots
Tomatoes (but this one is iffy – read more on the above link)

The following don’t need to be purchased organic:
Onions
Avocados
Sweet Corn
Pineapple
Mangos
Asparagus
Sweet peas
Kiwi
Cabbage
Eggplant
Papaya
Watermelon
Broccli
Sweet potatoes
Tomatoes (see above)

For the most part, I use the general rule that if the skin if hard (melons, avocados, mangos, etc.), I don’t buy organic.

Regardless of whether you are buying organic or not, keep in mind that it is a good idea to wash all fruits and veggies well (ideally with a fruit wash), especially hard skinned items. This is because the bacteria could spread into the fleshy area of the food when you slice it.

How much of your produce do you buy organic?



Friends and Monkees, I'm off to the mountains for a long weekend. See you back here on Tuesday. (Erin, give us an update on your journey to Australia when you can!)

Cheers, Jeannie