Comprehensive list of the most important foods to buy organic?

[Ophelia]

If you cannot afford to buy ALL organic? I have a list I printed a while back from MSN Health, but I wonder about some things and I'm sure different 'experts' say different things. For example, potatoes were not on the 'pesticide' list of the article, but I read elsewhere that potatoes are actually a higher toxin crop so I'm not sure what to believe.

I know of the main ones that are important, like dairy, meat, strawberry, tomato, grapes.

Can you point me to a website? Thanks!

[samstress]

not sure how comprehensive this is, but it's a start...

http://www.reneeloux.com/go_organic/dirty_dozen.html

and here are the most (and least) contaminated fruits and vegetables...

MOST
• Apples
• Bell Peppers
• Celery
• Cherries
• Imported Grapes
• Nectarines
• Peaches
• Pears
• Potatoes
• Red Raspberries
• Spinach
• Strawberries

LEAST
• Asparagus
• Avocados
• Bananas
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Corn (sweet)
• Kiwi
• Mangos
• Onions
• Papaya
• Pineapples
• Peas (sweet)

[Ophelia]

Thanks! I do think that is pretty similar to the list I have I'm printing this one out too.

[blueridgewoman]

Hmmm. avocadoes may not have high levels of pesticides, but I have read that since they're very fatty, they absorb dioxins readily. I tend to consider them on my "organic only" list.

[cristeen]

And consider that while corn is not a highly contaminated crop, any non-organic corn should be assumed to be GMO. I buy corn at the farmer's market from only one stand - and while they're not certified organic, they do use organic practices, and they use only non-GMO seed.

Soy is another that not-organic should be assumed to be GMO. As is Canola.

[Ophelia]

Thanks for the frankenfoods tip! Trying to stay away from GMO too although that seems almost impossible. Darn, here I was thinking I could get regular corn although I don't think I can stop DH from getting it and feeding it to DS

[deditus]

There's a print out wallet card from EWG here:

http://www.foodnews.org/walletguide.php

Some stuff has really changed a lot in the last few years - like many more tomatoes are grown in greenhouses now where there are fewer pests to spray for.