Community Blog
To buy organic or not?
On 24, Nov 2016 | In Community Blog | By Jin
I don’t know about you, but I sometimes find the price of organic produce makes me just want to ignore the issue and eat out! The good news is that some non-organic fruits and vegetables are quite safe to eat.
The following lists are based on amounts of pesticide residue found in washed produce (information provided by the Environmental Working Group, an organization that keeps tabs on toxin-related food safety). Foods in the first list generally have natural protective barriers against chemical pesticides, whereas foods in the second list are more exposed and vulnerable — in other words, more likely to retain pesticide residue.
Non-organic versions of these foods are OK:
- Avocados
- Sweet Corn
- Pineapples
- Cabbage
- Peas frozen
- Onions
- Asparagus
- Mangos
- Papayas
- Kiwi
- Eggplant
- Honeydew Melon
- Grapefruit
- Cantaloupe
- Cauliflower
Stick with organic versions of these foods:
- Strawberries
- Apples
- Nectarines
- Peaches
- Celery
- Grapes
- Cherries
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
- Sweet bell peppers
- Cherry tomatoes
- Cucumbers
- Hot Peppers
- Kale / Collard greens
Need more information? There are many sources online, including EWG’s official “clean” and “dirty” food lists.