May 17, 2013

When to Buy Organic Produce

Going organic can help you protect your family from pesticides and fertilizer residues, but as we all know, organic produce is typically more expensive. If you're like many of us, you simply may not have room in your grocery budget to buy solely organic produce.

Not all fruits and veggies are as likely to be tainted with chemicals; each year, the Environmental Working Group releases findings about which fruits and veggies are the "dirtiest" and which are the cleanest. You can use the information from this study to help you decide when to go organic and when regular produce is a safe bet.

According to EWG, the following fruits and veggies have the highest rate of contamination:

Apples

Celery

Cherry tomatoes

Cucumbers

Grapes

Hot peppers

Nectarines (imported)

Peaches

Potatoes

Spinach

Strawberries

Sweet bell peppers

Kale and collard greens

Summer squash

The cleanest veggies and fruits are:

Asparagus

Avocados

Cabbage

Cantaloupe

Sweet corn

Eggplant

Grapefruit

Kiwi

Mangoes

Mushrooms

Onions

Papayas

Pineapple

Sweet peas

Sweet potatoes

If you have a difficult time finding organic fruits and veggies in your local area, you can also remove pesticides and fertilizer residues using Eat Cleaner produce wipes. This all-natural cleaner removes chemicals, bacteria and dirt from fruits and veggies and was developed with the help of a physician.

Do you have any tips for finding organic fruits and veggies? Share them in the Comments section.