Buying Organic Produce

By now we all know the importance of eating organic foods. But, you are probably also aware that organic is more expensive than the standard produce offered at grocery stores. So how do you balance what’s important for your health with what’s in your wallet. Personally I feel that buying some organic food is better than nothing. But which are the most important organic foods to buy, and which can you get away with buying non-organic? The key is knowing which produce has the highest pesticide residue and which has the lowest.

Here are the vegetables that you really should be buying organic because the traditional varieties have the highest pesticide residues: bell peppers, carrots, celery, green beans, hot peppers, potatoes and spinach.

Here are the fruits that you really should be buying organic because the traditional varieties have the highest pesticide residues: apples, imported grapes, nectarines, peaches, pears, red raspberries, and strawberries.

To learn more about which produce has moderate and low levels of pesticide residues visit the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy’s Smart Produce Guide.