When to Buy Organic

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February 5, 2013

Let’s face it.  Organic products can be expensive.  However, that being said my health is one thing that I don’t feel bad spending money on.  Clothes, jewelry, makeup – eh, I could save money there.  But, my health is one thing that I am going to (hopefully) have for a very long time.

That being said, I don’t have an endless supply of money and I have to pick and choose when I buy organic.  But luckily for me (and now you!) I found a to bring to the grocery store with me. 

This list came from residue testing data from the US Department of Agriculture and Food and Drug Administration. 

Foods high in pesticides

ORGANIC1

ORGANIC2

The plus category at the bottom highlights two crops – green beans and leafy greens (kale and collard greens).  They are commonly contaminated with highly toxic organophosphate insecticides.  The insecticides are toxic to the nervous system and have been removed from crops over the past decade, HOWEVER they are not 100% banned and still show up on some crops.

Foods low in pesticides

okunorganic1

okunorganic2

 

Highlights from this year’s testing

  • Every sample of imported nectarines tested positive for pesticides, followed by apples and imported plums
  • The average imported nectarine had much higher total weight of pesticides than any other food crop
  • As a category, grapes have more types of pesticides than any other produce, with 64 different pesticides
  • A single bell pepper sample was contaminated with 15 different pesticides

I am so glad that I found this resource, and I hope you use it as much as I will.  There are so many gross things in this world and the last thing I want to do is ingest them.  For those of you who don’t believe in organic products, that’s completely fine.  I’m not pushing anyone to purchase organic.  Just wanted to share this resource with those of you who may want to utilize it.

Talk to Me

  • Do you buy organic?  If so what do you ALWAYS buy organic?
  • How often do you go grocery shopping?
  • What’s the one thing you found shocking about this list?
Comments ▼

Great post, Nicole! I’ve been struggling with what organic produce to buy forever! I learned alot from this post though. Thanks!!

I buy organic when I can! If the price difference isn’t too drastic, I’ll definitely go for the organic product.

Same. Doesn’t make sense to me to not get organic if the price is nearly the same!

Wow thanks so much for sharing! I’m definitely going to start following this list!

Sure thing Erin! I’ve bookmarked this page and saved it on my phone for easy access while I’m shopping 🙂

Great tips! Will post to my FB soon…

thanks for sharing, Ali!

Kammie @ Sensual Appeal

Great resource. I don’t buy everything organic, for example I know it’s unnecessary to buy organic if the fruit/veggie has a hard shell because then the inside of it is good – like bananas have a protective cover so it’s the same if it’s organic and non-organic. sharing this on my FB page!

I’m the same way. It’s usually OK if the shell is hard. Right now, I can’t afford all organic, so I like this resource because I can pick and choose.

Chelsea @ LittleOneRuns

wow, i didn’t realize that pesticides were so toxic 🙁 i usually go grovery shopping every week and buy apples organic, not all the time but from time to time and boy am i glad i do!!

Yea – eek. It’s such an eye opener, unfortunately.