Pesticide Residues on Food (EWG's Shopping Guide)

Pesticide Residues on Food The Environmental Working Group has published a list of the "dirty dozen", which is the top pesiticide contaminated foods that you should buy organic if you want to limit your pesticide exposure. http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary/ EWG's Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce: The Dirty Dozen: Buy these products organic 1. Apples 2. Celery 3. Strawberries 4. Peaches 5. Spinach 6. Nectarines (Imported) 7. Grapes (Imported) 8. Sweet bell peppers 9. Potatoes 10. Blueberries (domestic) 11. Lettuce 12. Kale/collard greens The Clean Dozen (Lowest Amount of Pesticide residues) 1. Onions 2. Sweet corn 3. Pineapples 4. Avocado 5. Asparagus 6. Sweet peas 7. Mangoes 8. Eggplant 9. Cantaloupe (domestic) 10. Kiwi 11. Cabbage 12. Watermelon 13. Sweet potatoes 14. Grapefruit 15. Mushrooms The best way to avoid pesticide residues on your food is to grow your own. In the southeast, all of the dirty dozen can be grown, except for perhaps nectarines. Peaches are very difficult but if you really like peaches enough to take the time and spend the energy to care for the trees, and if you don't mind cutting off bad spots and worm holes, then you can grow some peaches for your family. Grapes in this area of the country are limited to muscadines and scupernongs. Concords may be grown, but probably not commerically. The other crops are easy enough to grow in your home garden without a lot of special attention and pest and disease problems. Make sure to choose apple varieties that are suited for this climate. Many of the "clean dozen" are also easy to grow in the southeast so why not try some of them while you are at it? If you can't grow your own, the next best thing is to buy from a local farmer that you trust. Ask the farmer about his/her farming practices. Don't assume that locally grown equals pesticide-free. Buying organic from the supermarket is the least sustainable way to get pesticide free produce. If you make sure to eat seasonally available produce then you should be able to find it locally. If you are near Macon County, AL, check out Sunbright Organics: www.sunbrightfarm.com.