For those who want to buy organic foods but can’t afford to go 100 percent organic, the Environmental Working Group came up with a couple of lists to help prioritize where you spend your organic dollars. The nonprofit environmental research organization’s “Dirty Dozen” list names the most contaminated fruits and vegetables. Another list offers the produce that tested lowest in pesticide residue. The group’s report says consumers can lower their pesticide consumption by almost 90 percent by avoiding non-organic versions of the worst offenders.
• The Dirty Dozen, in order from most to least contaminated: Peaches, apples, sweet bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, lettuce, grapes (imported), pears, spinach and potatoes
• Lesser offenders, from lower to higher pesticide loads: Onions, avocados, frozen sweet corn, pineapples, mango, frozen sweet peas, asparagus, kiwi, bananas, cabbage, broccoli and eggplant.