The Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen
- by Carlen
- Apr 7, 2016
- 2 min read
For a while now we've been choosing to eat organic whenever possible. I say this, but the truth is, most organic items are really not budget-friendly for us.
I would love to some day have a thriving fruit and vegetable garden, but the best I've been able to manage is growing organic herbs in pots and we love to use them in everything!
So if you're like me and don't have a garden in your yard, how do you prioritize what to buy organic and what to have as conventional?
Well, thanks to the Environmental Working Group's Dirty Dozen Shopper's Guide, you can make those adjustments based on the list of dirtiest "offenders" and top clean choices!
The top 5 of the Dirty Dozen are:
1. Apples
2. Celery
3. Cherry tomatoes
4. Cucumbers
5. Grapes
We look for these in organic varieties. As an apple-crazy family, trips to the apple orchards during the season can save a whole lot of money as we stock up!
The Top 5 of the Clean Fifteen are:
1. Asparagus
2. Avocado
3. Cabbage
4. Cantaloupe
5. Cauliflower
Nearly two-thirds of the 3,015 produce samples tested by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2013 contained pesticide residues. EWG provides more info on those findings, genetically engineered crops, pesticides in baby food as well as references you can look further into for each study here.
We have sought out conventionally grown foods from their Top Clean Fifteen list because like many families we can not afford an all-organic diet.
You can get a nifty little pdf version of their guide by signing up on their site. We keep it on our phones for easy access while shopping for fruits and veggies.
At times I tend to be reticent about these environment-related issues as I realize some people have strong opinions on the organic farming topic. I would like to remind everyone that ALL fruits and vegetables should still be washed thoroughly as chemicals can be present in all store bought produce, even organic labeled ones.
With the warmer months ahead, our families will be enjoying more fruits and vegetables than we do year-round. When these are in season they are at their peak quality and generally lower prices!
Do you have seasonal recipes you love that capitalize on the best quality fruits and veggies of Spring and Summer?
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