Shopper's Guide to Pesticides

The Environmental Working Group has compiled a recent list of 47 Fruits & Veggies from "worst to least" pesticide load. Adjusting eating habits can lower our intake of pesticides -- sometimes dramatically so. Substitute organic for conventional produce that is consistently contaminated with pesticides. (Better yet, grow your own!) When organic produce is not available, or combining it with non-organic due to budget concerns, the shoppers guide below will help in making healthier choices.

Print out this list for grocery shopping planning. For more information on how to reduce your exposure to pesticides, or to download a wallet size guide, visit http://www.foodnews.org/.

RANK (worst to least) - FRUIT or VEGETABLE - SCORE (highest to lowest)

1. (worst) Peach 100 (highest pesticide load)
2. Apple 93
3. Sweet Bell Pepper 83
4. Celery 82
5. Nectarine 81
6. Strawberries 80
7. Cherries 73
8. Kale 69
9. Lettuce 67
10. Grapes (Imported) 66
11. Carrot 63
12. Pear 63
13. Collard Greens 60
14. Spinach 58
15. Potato 56
16. Green Beans 53
17. Summer Squash 53
18. Pepper 51
19. Cucumber 50
20. Raspberries 46
21. Grapes (Domestic) 44
22. Plum 44
23. Orange 44
24. Cauliflower 39
25. Tangerine 37
26. Mushrooms 36
27. Bananas 34
28. Winter Squash 34
29. Cantaloupe 33
30. Cranberries 33
31. Honeydew Melon 30
32. Grapefruit 29
33. Sweet Potato 29
34. Tomato 29
35. Broccoli 28
36 Watermelon 26
37. Papaya 20
38. Eggplant 20
39. Cabbage 17
40. Kiwi 13
41. Sweet Peas (Frozen) 10
42. Asparagus 10
43. Mango 9
44. Pineapple 7
45. Sweet Corn (Frozen) 2
46. (best) Avocado 1 (lowest pesticide load)
47. (best) Onion 1 (lowest pesticide load)