D is for Dirty Dozen

As we increase our intake of healthy fruits and vegetables we need to choose organic vs. non-organic. In a perfect world all the produce we buy would be naturally free of pesticides. But it's not, and there are some crops that are more contaminated than others.

We live in a time where farming practices have moved to large scale farms that rely on using Round Up and other weedkillers.

The EWG (Environmental Working Group) publishes The Dirty Dozen -a list of fruits and vegetables that are ranked each year based on level of contamination. If you want to minimize your exposure to pesticide, you use this list as a guide.

2023 Dirty Dozen list
(the highest levels of pesticide residue)

• Strawberries

• Spinach

• Kale, Collard & Mustard Greens

• Peaches

• Pears

• Nectarines

• Bell peppers & hot peppers

• Apples

• Grapes

• Cherries

• Blueberries

• Green beans

Additional foods I recommend you choose organic:

Raisins, Oats, Soy 

Consider buying organic and the freshest produce whenever possible. Also buying from local farms, farmer's markets or community gardens is good for our communities and our health. Make the best choice available to you.