Thrifty Tip Of The Day - Tips On Buying Organic Produce

Posted by oshun on May 11, 2009

Sometimes knowing what produce to buy organic can save you a ton of money. In general, the thicker the peel the less chance that the level of pesticides is high. You want to buy organic for produce that has high levels of pesticides. If you want to make your dollars stretch, choose to buy the produce that is low in pesticides without the organic label.

Here’s a couple things to consider when choosing produce to fit your budget:

1. Shop at your local farmers market - The produce there is cheaper and has less chemicals.
2. Avoid produce imported from other countries. Another rule of thumb: the longer produce has to travel to get to your table, the more chemicals it has.
3. Know which produce has the highest pesticide level. According to the  Organic Consumers Association, the following types of produce have the highest levels and therefore should always be purchased organic:

High Levels of pesticides

Strawberries
Bell Peppers (Green and Red)
Spinach
Cherries (US)
Peaches
Cantaloupe (Mexico)
Celery
Apples
Apricots
Green Beans
Grapes (Chile)
Cucumbers
Pears
Winter Squash (US)
Potatoes (US)

The following have the lowest levels of pesticides, and is safer to be purchased without the organic label:
Lower levels of pesticides

Avocados
Corn
Onions
Sweet Potatoes
Cauliflower
Brussels Sprouts
Grapes (US, Mexico)
Bananas
Plums
Green Onions
Watermelon
Broccoli

Data from Organic Consumers Association