{when to buy organic.2}

summer brings lots of fruits to the table.

as we chow down on these juicy and refreshing fruits, i am reminded of the dirty dozen which i wrote about last year. every year, the environmental working group (ewg) tests for pesticide residue on produce and compiles a list of the most and least contaminated fruits and vegetables.

so i wanted to know...what's on the dirty dozen list for 2013?

here's 2013s dirty dozen:

(buy organic when possible)

1) apples

2) celery

3) cherry tomatoes

4) cucumbers

5) grapes

6) hot peppers

7) nectarines - imported

8) peaches

9) potatoes

10) spinach

11) strawberries

12) sweet bell peppers

here's 2013s clean 15:

(save money on these, no need to buy organic)

1) asparagus

2) avocado

3) cabbage

4) cantaloupe

5) sweet corn

6) eggplant

7) grapefruit

8) kiwi

9) mangoes

10) mushrooms

11) onions

12) papayas

13) pineapples

14) sweet peas - frozen

15) sweet potatoes

you can check out last year's list here.

source: ewg.org/foodnews

{when to buy organic}

organic has been all the rage in recent years.

i first considered buying organic foods after having kids, because i only wanted the best for them. but, it was overwhelming trying to shop for and plan organic meals, not to

mention hard on the wallet. so i wanted to know,

when exactly do i need to buy organic?

 

 

every year, the environmental working group (ewg) tests for pesticide residue on produce and compiles a list of the most and least contaminated fruits and vegetables.

 

here's 2012s dirty dozen:

(buy organic when possible)

 

1) apples

(also consider applesauce and apple juice)

2) celery

3) sweet bell peppers

4) peaches

5) strawberries

6) nectarines - imported

7) grapes

(also consider grape juices and wine)

8) spinach

9) lettuce

(also consider kale, collards, and green beans)

10) cucumbers

11) blueberries - domestic

12) potatoes

 

here's 2012s clean 15:

(save money on these, no need to buy organic)

 

1) onions

2) sweet corn

3) pineapple

4) avocado

5) cabbage

6) sweet peas

7) asparagus

8) mangos

9) eggplant

10) kiwi

11) cantaloupe - domestic

12) sweet potato

13) grapefruit

14) watermelon

15) mushrooms

 

source: ewg.org/foodnews

 

*     *     *

 

some other things to consider are milk (because it's a big part of a child's diet), coffee & chocolate (the coffee/cocoa beans may be grown in countries that do not regulate use of pesticides), and foods in jars or boxes vs. canned varieties (the lining of the can has chemicals that may leak into foods).

 

and finally, a great rule to follow is to buy organic versions of your favorites. buying organic versions of things you eat or use the most will greatly reduce your exposure to harmful pesticides and chemicals.

 

what's your thoughts on buying organic?

photo: random google search