FOOD NEWS: WHEN BUYING ORGANIC IS REALLY WORTH THE EXTRA GREEN

I’d love it if you (and I!) could buy all of our produce from local farms and farmers markets..

Fruits and vegetables that are grown organically are not only better for your bod, they’re also better for the planet. But it’s not always easy, or affordable, to buy organics all of the time. So, when does it matter most?

Each year, the Environment Working Group releases a list of the foods most susceptible to pesticide contamination.

Here’s this year’s Dirty Dozen:

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

The EWG also notes which foods have the least pesticide contamination.

Here’s this year’s Clean 15:

1. Onions
2. Avocado
3. Sweet Corn
4. Pineapple
5. Mangoes
6. Sweet Peas
7. Asparagus
8. Kiwi
9. Cabbage
10. Eggplant
11. Cantaloupe
12. Watermelon
13. Grapefruit
14. Sweet Potato
15. Honeydew Melon

For more on the research and a printable shopper’s guide, visit The Environmental Working Group.