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5 SECRETS TO GETTING DINNER ON THE TABLE...FAST!

You are here: Home / House / Buying Organic: The Dirty Dozen and Clean 15

Buying Organic: The Dirty Dozen and Clean 15

February 18, 2012

  • 12
Buying Organic GuideEver since having Reece five years ago,  we have paid more attention to what foods are consumed in our house. Eating more fruits and vegetables has been particularly important to our family and when possible, we buy organic.

Each year the Environmental Working Group (EWG) releases the Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce.  This guide identifies the 12 produce items that have the highest levels of pesticides (Dirty Dozen) as well as the 15 produce items that have the lowest levels of pesticides (Clean 15).

The list identifies the fruits and vegetables that have the most pesticides on them as they are typically eaten. (That includes washing and peeling where applicable.)  The shopper’s guide can help you determine which fruits and vegetables are the most important to buy organic. You can see the full list of 53 fruits and vegetables and their rankings here. I found out about this informative guide a little over a year ago and it has made a difference in my organic shopping habits.

The EWG recommends buying organic whenever possible but I think that most of us cannot afford to buy everything organic – at least I can’t! If you can’t afford to buy any organics – continue eating fruits and vegetables! The benefits of consuming fruits and vegetables outweigh the risks of pesticide exposure. We all have limited budgets and I think this list is incredibly helpful in determining where your “organic dollars” should go.

My suggestion is to create a price sheet of your favorite grocery stores and farmer’s markets to see what the price is for both organic and non-organic produce. Figure out which store has lower priced organic produce and also which produce is only a little more expensive to buy organic than non-organic. I try to buy organic produce when it is less than 25% more expensive. There is a particular grocery store that I shop at where the organic produce is the same price most of the time and sometimes, when the organics are on sale – they’re even lower priced than the non-organics! I find that organic apples are very reasonably priced as well as lettuce and greens. Here are the Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 lists:
Dirty Dozen:
1. Apples
2. Celery
3. Strawberries
4. Peaches
5. Spinach
6. Nectarines
7. Grapes (Imported)
8. Sweet Bell Peppers
9. Potatoes
10. Blueberries (Domestic)
11. Lettuce
12. Kale/Collard Greens
Clean 15 
(Lowest in Pesticide)
1. Onions
2. Sweet Corn
3. Pineapples
4. Avocado
5. Asparagus
6. Sweet peas
7. Mangoes
8. Eggplant
9. Cantaloupe (domestic)
10. Kiwi
11. Cabbage
12. Watermelon
13. Sweet potatoes
14. Grapefruit
15. Mushrooms

I hope that you find this information helpful – I know I do! Make sure to print out the reference guide for when you are out shopping. You can also download it your android or iphone. Are you buying organic for your family? What do you think of organics? 
Linking up here, Home Stories A2Z, and My Repurposed Life.
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5 SECRETS TO GETTING DINNER ON THE TABLE...FAST!

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  • 12

By Trish - Mom On Timeout February 18, 2012 House

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Comments

  1. Rosie says

    May 14, 2017 at 11:19 PM

    Thanks for sharing. I love this idea and I am going to try this soon.

    Reply
  2. Anonymous says

    June 27, 2012 at 11:39 PM

    Corn is now rated as a pesticide by the FDA. It is no longer in the food category, thanks to genetic engineering. Monsanto, the company who made DDT and Roundup, are the ones now producing American corn. I stopped buying it completely.

    Reply
  3. Bettsi McComb says

    March 18, 2012 at 10:36 AM

    Thank you! This is so helpful! I appreciate you sharing it. Pinning!

    Reply
  4. Amy says

    March 5, 2012 at 3:39 PM

    Oh wow, that’s really good to know! Thanks so much for sharing at Shine on Fridays!!

    Reply
  5. cathy@my1929charmer says

    March 4, 2012 at 7:56 PM

    Great reference. I want to “spread” my money out and this will help me to do so with organic. I’ll be printing this out and having as a reference in my purse. Thanks for sharing your creative inspiration at Sunday’s Best.

    Reply
  6. Jessie@saavysavings says

    March 2, 2012 at 7:52 AM

    Hi! Thx for sharing this list! I also try to buy as much organic as possible! Just found u through the simply design blog party!

    Reply
    • Trish - Mom On Timeout says

      March 2, 2012 at 8:36 AM

      Thanks for stopping by Jessie! Hope you have a great weekend 🙂

      Reply
  7. Holly Lefevre says

    March 1, 2012 at 12:21 AM

    I know this…but often forget a few here and there. I need to print this out (and featuring you tomorrow). Such important information!

    Reply
    • Trish - Mom On Timeout says

      March 2, 2012 at 8:37 AM

      Thanks holly!

      Reply
  8. tobecontinued says

    February 24, 2012 at 12:26 PM

    Great post! We do all organic, but when not available we stick to “clean” options! Stop by sometime!
    Catherine
    tbc-tobecontinued.blogspot.com

    Reply
  9. Jill says

    February 23, 2012 at 11:12 PM

    I never knew lists like this were produced regarding pesticides! Very helpful! Thanks for sharing this.

    Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit!
    Hope you have a fabulous week!
    Jill @ Creating my way to Success
    http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/

    Reply
  10. Alison @ Oopsey Daisy says

    February 22, 2012 at 7:48 PM

    Well, this is handy!! Great information here… Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  11. 4you-withlove says

    February 22, 2012 at 1:50 PM

    Great info! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  12. Rachael says

    February 21, 2012 at 11:11 AM

    Great information, I sent it to my sister because I know she would like this too.

    Reply
  13. Balancing says

    February 21, 2012 at 5:33 AM

    Thanks for posting this! I have seen one before but wanted to print it out to have on hand when we go to the store!

    Reply
    • Trish - Mom On Timeout says

      February 21, 2012 at 8:50 AM

      You’re welcome! I figure it if was hard for me to remember which produce is best to buy organic then others might feel the same 🙂 This list is really helpful when I’m out at the store. Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply
  14. southernscraps says

    February 21, 2012 at 4:40 AM

    Thanks. I just recently started trying to buy organic and this is very helpful.

    Reply
  15. Kelly @ Live.Laugh.Rowe says

    February 19, 2012 at 4:33 PM

    Thank you so much for participating in the blog hop.
    Wishing you all the best in your bloggy endeavors 🙂
    Already a follower. YAY!

    Kelly
    http://www.livelaughrowe.com

    Reply
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Hi, I’m Trish!

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