When Is It Worth Buying Organic?

When browsing the produce aisle, we all face a choice.  We can opt for the standard, non-organic fruits and veggies that most of us grew up with, or we can go for the healthier, organic varieties that cost more.  So what do you do?  Long-term consequences to your health or short-term damage to your pocketbook? 

Well, I certainly don’t want to feed my family toxins, but I also don’t want to spend more money than I have to.  So I was pleased to find this list from the non-profit Environmental Working Group, which compiled data based on pesticide reports from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 

Based on their research, the following items contain the most pesticide residue, which might make them worth buying organic. 

• Celery
• Peaches
• Strawberries
• Apples
• Domestic Blueberries
• Nectarines
• Sweet Bell Peppers
• Spinach, Kale, and Collard Greens
• Cherries
• Potatoes
• Imported Grapes
• Lettuce

Other items, though, show little evidence of pesticide residue.  Many fruits and veggies with thick outer layers are “clean,” which makes buying organic less imperative.  They are: 

• Onions
• Avocados
• Sweet corn
• Pineapples
• Mango
• Sweet peas
• Asparagus
• Kiwi fruit
• Cabbage
• Eggplant
• Cantaloupe
• Watermelon
• Grapefruit
• Sweet potatoes
• Sweet onions

Image from the fabulous Epicurious.com.