I was in my neighborhood produce store the other day having a familiar debate with myself over a carton of strawberries. Should I buy the big, red, bright red ones in the main produce section at $1.25 a basket? Or should I splurge on the organic [0] ones for $2.25 for the same small container?
I knew my 8-year-old son, Trevor -- whom we often call a fruitoholic -- could make an entire container disappear in about two minutes flat. Did I really need to spend the extra money for organic? Feeling tight, I picked up a three-pack of the conventional berries and plopped them into my cart.
Bad decision.
It turns out strawberries are among the most likely fruits to contain pesticide residues. And while there's no evidence that sprayed fruit actually causes health problems, it's widely believed that children, with their small and developing bodies, are more vulnerable than adults to chemical contaminants.
When you consider this, organic seems like the only way to go. But it can be hard on the budget. Organically grown produce can be 20 percent to 80 percent more expensive than conventionally produced fruits and vegetables.
So when does it pay to spend extra? The Environmental Working Group, a not-for-profit environmental research organization, offers some help to consumers here. After analyzing more than 100,000 U.S. government pesticide test results, it came up with a report card on produce.
EWG reports the following fruits and vegetables are the most contaminated, meaning it pays to buy organic:
- Apples
- Bell Peppers
- Celery
- Cherries
- Grapes (imported)
- Nectarines
- Peaches
- Pears
- Potatoes
- Red Raspberries
- Spinach
- Strawberries
These fresh fruits and vegetables consistently have the lowest levels of pesticides, meaning frugal shoppers can get away with conventionally grown varieties:
- Asparagus
- Avocados
- Bananas
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Corn (sweet)
- Kiwi
- Mangos
- Onions
- Papaya
- Pineapples
- Peas (sweet)
The Environmental Working Group [1] has a handy, downloadable wallet guide you can carry to the grocery store at FoodNews.org [2]. A complete list of test results is also available. [3]
I know I'll be taking this list to the store the next time I go shopping. No more pesticide-laced strawberries for my little fruit fanatic.
Image: 5aday [4]