Vegetarian Star

“I think we need local foods. They might not all be organic. One of the real problems is that all regulations favor bigger business so there are a lot of organic small producers that can’t afford to get certification. Right now about 2% of our food is organic. It’s the fastest growing segment. I think that local is just as important if not more important. And there’s a site, by the way, for your readers. It’s called the Dirty Dozen. It’s the 12 worst things to eat [non-organically]. You don’t want to eat industrial versions of these 12 items.”

—Robert Kenner, director of Food Inc. Buying local before organic can save money and fuel used to transport food across the country. But there may be some foods you always want to buy organic, due to the amount of pesticides retained on their surfaces after they’ve been picked. Which fruits and veggies are dirtiest? View the list yourself to find out and always buy those organic to avoid consuming produce known to carry the highest pesticide residues.

via Film Threat

Photo: PR Photos

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Dr. Andrew Weil, author and integrative medicine pioneer, discusses the dangers of pesticides in food, especially fruits and vegetables in this clip that also shows the Environmental Working Group’s “Dirty Dozen,” list of produce you should always buy organic.

Organic fruits and veggies won’t be found in the $1 aisle, so when the budget is tight, it’s a good idea to keep this list handy to know what you can away with.

We should probably be following Dr. Weil’s advice on the dirty dozen, which is if he can’t get organic versions of them, he doesn’t eat them.

“A lot of these chemicals are toxic to the nervous system. Other may disrupt endocrine function in the body. They may increase risk of cancer and other chronic diseases,” Dr. Weil explains in the video.

Dr. Weil says data exists that shows people who eat organic have lower measurable pesticide levels in their tissues.

Like other data, the “Dirty Dozen” list is updated, and the Environmental Working Group has unveiled the 2010 list.

Dirty Dozen–Always Buy Organic
1. Celery
2. Peaches
3. Strawberries
4. Apples
5. Blueberries
6. Nectarines
7. Bell Peppers
8. Spinach
9. Kale
10. Cherries
11. Potatoes
12. Grapes

Cleanest–Lowest in Pesticides, Buy Conventional When You Have To
1. Onions
2. Avocado
3. Sweet Corn
4. Pineapple
5. Mangos
6. Sweet Peas
7. Asparagus
8. Kiwi
9. Cabbage
10. Eggplant
11. Cantalouope
12. Watermelon
13. Grapefruit
14. Sweet Potato
15. Honeydew Melon

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