Not all produce is created equal. There are some that are more likely to be sprayed with pesticides that are known to cause cancer. Some just need to be washed thoroughly and others should be avoided unless you can verify where and how it was produced.
Here’s the standard list I found on several websites, but read the article for more information on how these choices were made:
EXCERPT:
Dirty Dozen
Ranked in order from the greatest to least amount of pesticide residue, these were the top 12 fruit-and-veggie offenders. Peaches came in first in the 47 types of produce tested. Buy these items organic whenever possible. Since organic foods can be pricey, offset the cost by buying these fruits and veggies in season when prices are the most reasonable.
1. Peaches
2. Apples
3. Bell Peppers
4. Celery
5. Nectarines
6. Strawberries
7. Cherries
8. Kale
9. Lettuce
10. Grapes (imported)
11. Carrots
12. Pears
Honorable mentions:
Other veggies that ranked high on the EWG list are collard greens, spinach and potatoes.
Clean Fifteen
These items contain the lowest levels of pesticides when grown conventionally. Listed from least to greatest, onion scored the lowest for pesticide content.
1. Onions
2. Avocados
3. Sweet corn
4. Pineapples
5. Mango
6. Asparagus
7. Sweet Peas
8. Kiwi
9. Cabbage
10. Eggplant
11. Papaya
12. Watermelon
13. Broccoli
14. Tomatoes
15. Sweet Potatoes
