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Fresh Produce...Organic Or Not? Two Lists With Surprises!

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with The Outer Banks Real Estate Company LLC NCRE# 240210

Recently I found two lists of fruits and vegetables; The Dirty Dozen and Clean 15.  What was interesting to me was finding 15 different produce items that do not necessarily need to be grown organically in order to be safe for consumption.  They are the lowest in pesticide residue, not free of pesticides.  I thought that was a positive approach to safe food choices, especially in today's economy.  Organic is typically more expensive (and worth it) but why not also choose to save a little money from time to time without the worry about your or your family’s health being compromised?

 

Here are the two lists along with a link to more information. www.foodnews.org

Clean 15 (Lowest In Pesticides)           The Dirty Dozen (Buy Organic)

1.  Onion                                                                                       1.  Peach

2.  Avocado                                                                                   2.  Apple

3.  Sweet Corn                                                                              3.  Bell Pepper

4.  Pineapple                                                                                 4.  Celery

5.  Mango                                                                                     5.  Nectarine

6.  Asparagus                                                                               6.  Strawberries

7. Sweet Peas                                                                               7.  Cherries

8.  Kiwi                                                                                        8.  Kale

9.  Cabbage                                                                                 9.  Lettuce

10. Eggplant                                                                                10. Grapes (Imported)

11. Papaya                                                                                  11. Carrot

12. Watermelon                                                                           12. Pear

13. Broccoli

14. Tomato

15. Sweet Potato

William James Walton Sr.
WEICHERT, REALTORS® - Briotti Group - Waterbury, CT
Greater Waterbury Real Estate

Not overly surprised at the list, but very happy that some of my favorite fruits are on the clean list - I love mangoes and kiwi fruit, and being able to make a decent fruit salad with watermelon, pineapple, non-imported grapes, mangoes, kiwi fruit, and a few other fruits will be a worry free affair for me.

Mar 30, 2010 04:31 AM
Margaret Goss
@Properties - Winnetka, IL
Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate

Some of the things on the clean list definitely have a thicker skin which helps.  I eat them all but it's good to know.  By the way, how did you get two columns like that - I thought it couldn't be done nicely!

Mar 30, 2010 04:38 AM
Morgan Mason
The Outer Banks Real Estate Company LLC - Southern Shores, NC
Outer Banks Beach Houses for Sale

Thanks for your comments and for reading my post.  I am always looking for ways to save money at the grocery store but I also choose organic items most of the time.  It was great to see where I can have what I want, not get poisoned and still take home some change!

William, I agree with you!  Those are the best fruits.  When I lived in Malibu I enjoyed them all year around!

Margaret, the columns aren't perfect since AR does not utilize tabs or column widths.  Believe it or not, I had to space bar the whole thing and then it was still all jagged.  It was through trial and error to get it to look just OK.  Actually, I put that photo between the column titles to keep them apart!  The spaces I put between them in edit mode just did not hold in the final post!  Let me know if you ever find an easier way!  When I put this in my Wordpress blog, I just used their editing tools which are like Word.  Much easier.  AR has a way to go to be a smooth blogging operation.

Mar 30, 2010 05:25 AM
Paul Chavez
Earth Origins Realty - Albuquerque, NM
Albuquerque Realtor, NM EcoBroker, and General Contractor

Great list.  We try to buy only organic food, and it really is so much more tasty and "feel good" conpared to pesticide, potentially GMO altered fruits and veggies.  I can't wait for the local farmers markets to start up again this summer!  (And for my own organic garden to get on its way!)

Apr 03, 2010 12:23 AM
Morgan Mason
The Outer Banks Real Estate Company LLC - Southern Shores, NC
Outer Banks Beach Houses for Sale

Rick and Paul, thank you for reading my post and leaving comments.  It is amazing to me that the taste of organically grown food is so superior to non-organic.  Lately I have been buying local eggs from hens fed organically grown feed.   These eggs are so delicious that I look forward to any egg dish made with them!  The yokes are almost orange.  Again, thanks for taking the time to leave me comments.

Apr 03, 2010 10:59 AM