THE DIRTY DOZEN AND THE CLEAN FIFTEEN.

"Dirty Dozen"
Buy these organic:

1. Celery
2. Peaches
3. Strawberries
4. Apples
5. Blueberries
6. Nectarines
7. Sweet Bell Pepper
8. Spinach
9. Kale / Collard Greens
10. Cherries
11. Potatoes
12. Grapes (Imported)

"Clean Fifteen"
Lowest in pesticides:

1. Onions
2. Avocado
3. Sweet Corn (Frozen)
4. Pineapples
5. Mango
6. Sweet Peas (Frozen)
7. Asparagus
8. Kiwi Fruit
9. Cabbage
10. Eggplant
11. Cantaloupe (Domestic)
12. Watermelon
13. Grapefruit
14. Sweet Potatoes
15. Honeydew Melon

What does organic mean?

• No use of pesticides, herbicides
• No use of fertilizers made from sewage sludge
• No genetically modified seeds or use of irradiation
• Thorough record keeping
• Facility inspected by USDA-accredited certification agency

Washing and rinsing produce can reduce pesticide residue, but will not entirely eliminate them.  Peeling reduces residue, but important nutrients and phytochemicals are lost.

Get to know your vendors at the farmer's market and ask questions.  Because organic certification is so costly, many farmers choose to not have the certification, but still grow their produce without the use of pesticides and fertilizers.