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.





