Apples Coming soon to supermarkets: Arctic Granny and Arctic Golden, both genetically modified to prevent browning when cut, and the first GMO apples to gain USDA approval. Skip the Frankenfood and go organic. Conventionally grown apples top the Environmental Working Group’s “Dirty Dozen” of pesticide-laden offenders. And, no, according to studies, the chemicals don’t just wash off. Carrotscarrots Like all root crops, draw water and nutrients from the soil to feed the plant, a trait that also renders them susceptible to pesticide contamination. Whatever’s applied to the soil, whether it’s an insecticide linked to cancer or an endocrine-disrupting herbicide, is likely to cycle through the roots and end up on your plate. MORE: What Does It Really Mean When Food Is Labeled Organic? Celery The star of your mise-en-place is also a poster child for pesticide abuse. It shows up regularly on the USDA’s monitoring database, the Pesticide Data Program, for a wide variety of residues, including some suspected endocrine disruptors. Play it safe and make your next stock with an organic stalk. [block:bean=pvn-survey-walking-a-062015] Kale + Collard Greens Go organic to keep your green smoothie clean. According to the Environmental Working Group, dark greens like kale and collards don’t meet criteria to rank among the 12 dirtiest, but certain pesticides that have been found on them, including some neurotoxins, are considered especially hazardous to children. MORE: 7 Disgusting Facts About Roundup Peaches There’s a long list of tenacious insects and plant diseases that find peaches appealing, so conventional growers blast them with an equally long list of pesticides, according to USDA testing data. Ninety-eight percent of peaches tested positive for at least one chemical in the most recent analysis, so an organically grown peach is a worthy splurge. Cherry Tomatoesewg.org A single serving of cherry tomatoes proved positive for 13 different pesticides in the most recent USDA tests. The waxy coating intended to keep supermarket types fresh also makes pesticides harder to wash off. Choose organic: You’ll bypass the pesticides and enjoy some extra heart-healthy phenolic compounds, according to studies. (For more information, go to .) The article 6 Foods Where Organic Matters Most originally ran on RodalesOrganicLife.com.
