Organic fruits and vegetables grow with naturally produced pesticides.

I hear this from my clients a lot. “I want to eat healthy, but I can’t afford to buy organic.”

My usual response is: “Then just eat normal fruits and vegetables.”

Here’s the deal. It’s a common misconception that organic fruits and vegetables are not grown with pesticides. That is 100% absolutely false. Organic fruits and vegetables are grown with pesticides. The difference is that while conventional produce is grown with largely synthetic pesticides, organic produce has to use pesticides that occur naturally. And organic pesticides have to be used in much higher doses than synthetic pesticides to be effective.

According to Harvard Medical School, organic produce has fewer pesticide residues on them than conventionally grown produce. But both have pesticide levels that are considered “safe.” The verdict is still out on if organic pesticides and fertilizers are safer than synthetic ones. Right now, we just don’t have enough long-term data to show a result either way. What we do know is that organic produce comes with quite a price tag. It can be marked up 10-50% more than conventionally grown fruits and vegetables.

If you’re still on the fence, as many of us are, about whether or which foods to buy organic, then I would suggest taking a look at the following list called the “Dirty Dozen”.

These are 12 fruits and vegetables that use the highest levels of pesticides (and edible or thin skins) so these are the best ones to buy organic if you can:

• Strawberries
• Spinach
• Kale
• Nectarines
• Apples
• Grapes
• Peaches
• Cherries
• Pears
• Tomatoes
• Celery
• Potatoes

Bottom Line:

You should eat fruits and vegetables. If you can afford to buy organic, great! If not, then don’t. There is no evidence that conventionally grown fruits and vegetables have less nutrients, vitamins or minerals than organic produce. Just make sure to wash all your produce and enjoy colorful plates!