Buying organic is a good way to cut your exposure to potentially harmful pesticides, but it can get expensive. So how can you save on organics? According to the September 2008 issue of ShopSmart, from the publisher of Consumer Reports, one way to save is to limit organic purchases to fruits and veggies that have the most dangerous pesticide residues when grown conventionally. The worst of the bunch are listed below, in order of risk, based on a new analysis of government data by the nonprofit Organic Center. (Produce with the lowest pesticide risk includes citrus fruits, bananas, pineapples and onions.)

Riskiest Fruits: Buy These Organic
Imported Grapes
Cranberries
Nectarines
Peaches
Strawberries
Pears
Apples
Cherries

Riskiest Vegetables: Buy These Organic
Green Beans
Sweet Bell Peppers
Celery
Cucumbers
Potatoes
Tomatoes
Peas
Lettuce

Note that this list refers to U.S. produce. Some imported items have higher pesticide levels. The "risk index score" for an imported peach is almost five times that of a domestic peach; for sweet bell peppers, it's nearly five-and-a-half times as high. Other high-risk produce: imported grapes, nectarines, lettuce, and cucumbers. So you might want to skip those if you can find only imports. Also be wary of overseas "organics," where regulatory oversight might not be as reliable.