Going organic is SO important for your health. Going organic is NOT a scam, organic produce DOES taste better, and organic foods ARE more nutritious. But, we understand, going organic can be expensive. The Environmental Working Group’s Clean Fifteen and Dirty Dozen lists are our trusted source for knowing what is absolutely necessary to purchase organic and which fruits and vegetables can be purchased conventionally to save a bit of money where we can.
Each year, the EWG tests various produce items to determine the pesticide and chemical level within the produce items. Foods with the highest concentrations of pesticides and chemicals comprise the Dirty Dozen list. These are the foods that are crucial to purchase organic. If you can’t find it organic, don’t buy it.
Foods with the lowest concentrations of pesticides and chemicals comprise the Clean Fifteen list. These fifteen produce items are the ones you can feel safe purchasing conventionally, as they will typically have the least impact on your health and wellness.
Dirty Dozen
Buy these foods ORGANIC or don’t buy them at all.
- Strawberries
- Spinach
- Kale, collard greens, & mustard greens
- Nectarines
- Apples
- Grapes
- Bell peppers & hot peppers
- Cherries
- Peaches
- Pears
- Celery
- Tomatoes
Clean Fifteen
You can feel safe purchasing these foods conventionally if needed.
- Avocados
- Sweet corn*
- Pineapple
- Onions
- Papaya*
- Sweet peas (frozen)
- Asparagus
- Honeydew melon
- Kiwi
- Cabbage
- Mushrooms
- Cantaloupe
- Mangoes
- Watermelon
- Sweet potatoes
*A small amount of sweet corn, papaya, and summer squash sold in the US is produced from genetically modified seeds. Buy organic varieties of these crops if you want to avoid GMOs.