Which Fruits and Vegetables Should I Buy
Organic

Answering the question, "Which fruits and vegetables should I buy organic?" can sometimes be a matter of keeping up with current events. Every day new information comes out about the state of our food supply, and if you aren't going to take the step of insisting on purchasing organic foods whenever you shop, it pays to touch base with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's website (USDA) as well as Consumer Reports and any of a number of consumer advocacy groups who monitor the national food supply to adopt the safest buying practices.

According to studies conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) researching the amount of pesticides in produce, there are a number of big offenders. The USDA rated 46 fruits and vegetables for the presence of pesticide residue and reported on the percentage in each group that tested positive. The following fruits and vegetables are the top ten offenders and an excellent short list of produce that you should always attempt to buy organic.

• Nectarines (97.3 percent)
• Celery (94.5)
• Pears (94.4)
• Peaches (93.7)
• Apples (91.0)
• Cherries (91.0)
• Strawberries (90.0)
• Grapes - Imported (86.0)
• Spinach (83.4)
• Potatoes (79.3)

For most shoppers, choosing organic produce is a balancing act. Factors like economy, availability and appearance are always part of the decision making process. When you buy organic produce as opposed to commercially available fruits and vegetables, you are assured of a more wholesome product that's been made without synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Organically produced products are usually a little more expensive because natural, earth friendly farming practices often result in smaller crop yields. The increased costs may mean that sometimes you may have to choose what to buy organic and what to buy that has been conventionally grown.

The ten items listed below had the lowest pesticide contamination of the 46 conventionally grown vegetables and fruits tested by the USDA. When you shop for conventionally grown produce, favor these:

• Banana
• Kiwi
• Mango
• Pineapple
• Papaya
• Asparagus
• Avocado
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Eggplant
• Onion
• Peas (sweet)

When evaluating the potential hazards of food borne pesticides to your family, remember that children, pregnant women and the elderly are at the greatest risk.

Increasing the number of organic products in your home can help you create a baseline from which to evaluate undiagnosed allergies and ailments. The advantages of an organic lifestyle don't stop with diet. Wearing and using organic textiles, like undergarments, nightwear, carpeting, floor covering, and bed linens, can help you keep your family safer and possibly healthier.

Locally grown organic crops will typically be less expensive because of the shorter supply chain necessary to bring them to market. When you buy organic produce and products cultivated or manufactured in your community, you support your local economy. You also help the environment by advocating policies that are earth friendly. Asking the question, "Which fruits and vegetables should I buy organic?" is a good start, but don't stop there. The costs associated with organically grown products are going down all the time, so ask your retailer for more information.

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