what to buy organic and what to slide buy on!

Fruits and veggies you should buy organic

Peaches and nectarines (all stone fruit) - they have a very thin skin and are often heavily sprayed with chemicals to ward off pests. Their thin skin also means that the chemicals penetrate to the flesh so even if you peel them you won't get rid of them.

Apples - another thin skinned fruit that is often heavily sprayed.

Bell peppers- any vegetable in the Nightshade family has thin skin (which includes tomatoes)

Celery - since celery has no skin it is impossible to wash off chemicals and pesticides.

Strawberries - this is especially true during the off season as they are shipped in from other countries with fewer regulations on pesticides and chemicals. 59 differect pesticides have been found.

Cherries-The US Government has found up to 42 different pesticides on domestically grown cherries. Need I say more? Imported cherries are found to have three times less pesticides.

Spinach- Dubbed by some as one of the "dirtiest" leafy greens, it has had multiple FDA recalls in recent years due to improper handling and farming. Not to mention it can be laced with up to 48 different pesticides if conventionally grown!

Leafy greens- are frequently contaminated with what are considered the most potent pesticides used on food

Grapes - especially the imported ones

Carrots – sprayed with 26 different pesticides

Pears - as insects become more resilient to the pesticides used on pears, more and more chemicals are used

Potatoes

Tomatoes - have been taken off some worst offenders list but their skin keeps them on my list

Raspberries

Citrus- which you are using for zest

Blue berries- have been treated with 52 pesticides

Fruits and veggies that you don’t need to buy organic

Onions – pests don’t seem to bother onion, so no need for sprays

Avocado – rinse well before cutting

Corn - although I would buy local whenever possible from a source you trust.

Pineapple- rinse very well before cutting.

Mango - has a very thick skin that keeps pesticides out. Rinse well before cutting.

Asparagus - not too many pests enjoy asparagus so fewer chemicals are used

Sweet peas – are among the least likely vegetable to have pesticides residue

Kiwi - was well before peeling and cuttings. Rinse before cutting

Cabbage

Eggplant - think skin is a great barrier to pesticides

Papaya – rinse very well before cutting

Melons - watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew. Rinse well before cutting.

Broccoli - like asparagus it does not have too many pests so it is sprayed less

Bananas

Cauliflower

Winter squash- the thick skins give them a barrier for pests

Sweet potatoes

Mushroom

Always veggies wash when you can!

Pin It Now!