Mama believes in eating as healthy as possible… but buying organic all the time can be a pretty pricey proposition if you’re trying to avoid pesticides in your produce.

(Boy, there are a lot of “p’s” in that sentence.)

Summer brings a new wave of beautiful produce into the markets. But how do you know whether to buy “conventionally grown” or go organic? The Environmental Working Group’s rankings of the fruits and vegetables with the highest and lowest levels of pesticide residue are a terrific guide.

The Dirty Dozen (Highest in Pesticides):|
1. Apples
2. Celery
3. Strawberries
4. Peaches
5. Spinach
6. Imported Nectarines
7. Imported Grapes
8. Sweet Bell Peppers
9. Potatoes
10. Blueberries grown in the U.S.
11. Lettuce
12. Kale/Collard Greens

On the flip side, you might be surprised by the vegetables lowest in pesticides. I know I was. Especially corn… I thought that was hard to grow.
1. Onions
2. Corn
3. Pineapple
4. Avocado
5. Asparagus
6. Sweet Peas
7. Mango
8. Eggplant
9. Cantaloupe
10. Kiwi
11. Cabbage
12. Watermelon
13. Sweet Potatoes
14. Grapefruit
15. Mushrooms

The bottom line… try your best to stay away from the sinners, but as Mama tells her kids… “Eat your vegetables!”