There’s SO much confusion out there about organics and I’m always asked, “Is it worth it?” Buying organic not only means that your food is free of pesticides and other chemicals, but it’s also better for the environment and supports small, sustainable farmers.
But let’s be real… Organic also means expensive, and we don’t want to spend our whole paycheck in the produce section.
Strawberries, and tomatoes are sprayed with chemicals to keep insects from eating them, and these chemicals soak into the soft skin saturating the fruit with lots of chemicals.
Apples also absorb chemicals through their thin skin, and some are sprayed with Diphenylamine, which is actually so toxic that it was actually banned in Europe. And, with regard to apples, don’t forget to buy organic for apple juice and applesauce, too.
Spinach has spongy, porous leaves that, unfortunately, are excellent at soaking up pesticides, making buying organic a total no-brainer here.
Even the humble, hearty potato doesn’t seem like something that would scream out for organic options. But it might be the most important. One study found that conventional potatoes had more pesticides than any other crop in the produce section.
So, what SHOULD You Buy Organic?
My top 5 musts are…
- Strawberries
- Tomatoes
- Apples
- Spinach
- Potatoes
And, the Ones There’s No Need…
- Avocados
- Broccoli
- Asparagus
- Onions
- Kiwis
Avocados might be hard to peel, but that thick outer skin also protects you from harmful chemicals. Recent research on broccoli samples showed that more than 70% were totally pesticide-free.
Asparagus also tends not to carry much chemical residue, making it safe to skip out on organic. Onions are another veggie that there’s not a huge need to buy organic. Because they have layers that you peel, you’re never consuming the outer layer, where the chemical residue lurks.
Pesticides also are rarely used on kiwis (and plus, you don’t eat the skin anyway), so they’re a totally safe bet for going non-organic.
So break out of your food rut and Go Organic with this quick and easy reference guide to use the next time you go shopping!
