Organic, or Not to Organic?
Posted by Guarantee Green Team on January 30th, 2012It would be nice if we could buy organic all the time, but, realistically, we can’t always afford to stock our kitchens with exclusively organic foods.
Watchdog groups, like the EWG, have compiled data on which produce and other products rank the highest on the pesticide scale. From this scale we learn that by replacing a few simple foods with organic produce, you can cut the amount of pesticides you ingest by almost 80 percent.
The EWG comes out with a list each year of the top 12 foods (knick named the Dirty Dozen). Due to the high level of pesticides, they suggest you buy the organic option of the following produce:
- Apples
- Celery
- Strawberries
- Peaches
- Spinach
- Imported Nectarines
- Imported Grapes
- Sweet Bell Peppers
- Potatoes
- Domestic Blueberries
- Lettuce
- Kale / Collard Greens
The list of the 15 fruits and vegetables with the lowest level of pesticides is also helpful. This way you can purchase certain non-organic fruits and veggies, and feel better about what you’re feeding your family. The top 15 low level pesticide foods are:
- Onions
- Sweet Corn (some sweet corn is GMO, and will not be labeled as such).
- Avocado
- Asparagus
- Sweet Peas
- Mangoes
- Eggplant
- Domestic Cantaloupe
- Kiwi
- Cabbage
- Watermelon
- Sweet Potatoes
- Grapefruit
- Mushrooms
With these helpful guidelines, you can begin making healthier choices for your family without breaking the bank.
For more on the EWG and how they decide which foods belong on the Dirty Dozen list, check out their website at http://www.ewg.org/foodnews
Tags: Clean World, Environmental Awareness, Going Green, Good Eating, Happy Home, Healthy Living, Organic, Seasonal Veggies