Sunday, August 24, 2008 4:31 PM
Pesticides in produce: when does it pay to buy organic?
When a teeny organic tomato costs $4.50, it’s hard not to wonder if you’re spending your dough wisely. There are plenty of environmental, health and practical reasons to buy organic (organic farming produces fewer pollutants, reportedly uses 30 percent less energy and decreases the amount of pesticides that can end up in tap water), but it can also cost as much as 30 to 50 percent more than conventionally grown fruits and vegetables.
When is it worth it—in terms of reducing exposure to pesticides—to buy organic? The amount of pesticide in produce varies widely, but if you’re choosing between organic or conventional, keep in mind that the more fragile, thin-skinned fruits and vegetables like peaches or lettuce require more pesticides to combat bugs.
A thorough washing can reduce the amount of pesticide, as does peeling (but you end up losing some nutrients with the peel, too). The Environmental Working Group analyzed data collected by the U.S.D.A. and the F.D.A. between 2000 and 2005 to produce this list of the best and worst pesticide loads in produce.
1. Peaches 100 (highest pesticide load)
2. Apples 96
3. Sweet Bell Peppers 86
4. Celery 85
5. Nectarines 84
6. Strawberries 83
7. Cherries 75
8. Lettuce 69
9. Grapes – Imported 68
10. Pears 65
11. Spinach 60
12. Potatoes 58
13. Carrots 57
14. Green Beans 55
15. Hot Peppers 53
16. Cucumbers 52
17. Raspberries 47
18. Plums 46
19. Oranges 46
20. Grapes-Domestic 46
21. Cauliflower 39
22. Tangerine 38
23. Mushrooms 37
24. Cantaloupe 34
25. Lemon 31
26. Honeydew Melon 31
27. Grapefruit 31
28. Winter Squash 31
29. Tomatoes 30
30. Sweet Potatoes 30
31. Watermelon 25
32. Blueberries 24
33. Papaya 21
34. Eggplant 19
35. Broccoli 18
36. Cabbage 17
37. Bananas 16
38. Kiwi 14
39. Asparagus 11
40. Sweet Peas-Frozen 11
41. Mango 9
42. Pineapples 7
43. Sweet Corn-Frozen 2
44. Avocado 1
45. Onions 1 (lowest pesticide load)
What do you always buy organic, and why?