One of the major problems with non-organic, also called conventional, produce is the use of pesticides. Certain pesticides have been linked to health concerns such as hormone imbalances as well as negative environmental outcomes like stripping our soil of its nutrient density.
However, like everything with nutrition, it isn’t all or nothing. Just because you can’t buy organic doesn’t mean you shouldn’t eat produce at all. In fact, the benefits of eating a diet rich in fruits and veggies ultimately outweigh the risk of exposure, especially if you’re washing your produce well.
My advice is to buy the best you can that works within your budget. Need to pick and choose? Learn the Dirty Dozen and Clean 15! These lists are put together every year by the Environmental Work Group and inform us which fruits and vegetables in the U.S. have the most pesticides and which have the least. Take a look at the lists below:
Dirty Dozen (2021)
Strawberries
Spinach
Kale, collard greens, mustard greens
Nectarines
Apples
Grapes
Cherries
Peaches
Pears
Bell peppers
Celery
Tomatoes
Clean 15
Avocado
Sweet corn
Pineapple
Onion
Papaya
Frozen sweet peas
Eggplant
Asparagus
Broccoli
Cabbage
Kiwi
Cauliflower
Mushrooms
Honeydew melon
Cantalope