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Organic Musts

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Pesticide levels vary on different fruits and vegetables. Each year, the Environmental Working Group ranks 48 types of conventionally grown produce, based on thousands of samples tested by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Here are this year’s highlights.

The Dirty Dozen

Conventionally grown versions of these foods have the heaviest pesticide loads, which you can avoid by buying organic instead:

1. Strawberries
2. Spinach
3. Nectarines
4. Apples
5. Peaches
6. Pears
7. Cherries
8. Grapes
9. Celery
10. Tomatoes
11. Sweet bell peppers
12. Potatoes

The Clean 15

A small amount of sweet corn and papayas may be genetically modified. Otherwise, these contain the lowest levels of pesticides:

1. Sweet corn
2. Avocados
3. Pineapples
4. Cabbage
5. Onions
6. Sweet peas (frozen)
7. Papayas
8. Asparagus
9. Mangos
10. Eggplant
11. Honeydew melon
12. Kiwi
13. Cantaloupe
14. Cauliflower
15. Grapefruit

For a copy of EWG’s 2017 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce, visit ewg.org/foodnews.