We just discovered this handy printable pocket sized guide on when you should definitely always buy organic to avoid pesticides in fruits & veggies. It is recommended that you strongly consider buying organic for all 12 of the identified “Dirty Dozen” foods to the left side of the page due to the high pesticide levels.
Personally, having read a great deal about the ways bananas are cultivated, matured and shipped, I would shift them to the left side as well to make it a “Dirty Baker’s Dozen”. I have also read that blueberries tend to have high levels of pesticides and are treated with over 52 different types of pesticides, making them the dirtiest berries on the market, so make that a Baker’s Dozen +1. A list provided from the thedailygreen.com is below and more can be found here on whatsonmyfood.org
You can download & print the little reference wallet paper here thanks to Heidi Kenney, and read more about Nutritional Tips & Advice on Wahanda.
High Pesticide Fruits & Veggies
- Celery (no protective skin)
- Peaches (thin skin)
- Strawberries (especially when purchased out of season)
- Apples (scrubbing & peeling does not help much, so buy organic)
- Blueberries (one of the most “treated” berries)
- Nectarines
- Bell peppers (thin skins)
- Spinach (this is starting to get depressing…48 different types of pesticides)
- Kale
- Cherries (US cherries have been found to have more pesticides than imported ones)
- Potatoes
- Grapes & Wine! (imported grapes have much more pesticide, and wine has been shown to have pesticides as well)
- Raspberries
- Pears
Tags: blueberries, Guide to Organic Fruits & Vegetables, Organic Food, Organic Fruits, Organic Vegetables, pesticides