Fruits and vegetables are the cornerstone of a healthy diet. The newly adopted government symbol My Plate indicates that half of each meal should be fruits and veggies. While working on a budget, trying to eat healthy, and be environmentally conscious, the question arises of what one needs to buy organic. Remember, eating conventional produce is better than eating no produce at all. However, one of the benefits of buying organic produce is that you greatly reduce exposure to pesticides.  The following is a list, “The Dirty Dozen” of fruits and veggies that contain high levels of pesticides. These fruits and vegetables absorb pesticides and chemicals more easily than others.

Lower your intake of pesticides and support organic farming practices, while still getting your daily fruits and vegetables!

• Apples
• Celery
• Strawberries
• Peaches
• Spinach
• Nectarines
• Grapes
• Sweet Bell Peppers
• Potatoes
• Blueberries
• Lettuce
• Kale/Collard Greens