Stretching Your Produce Dollar-When Organic Might Make Sense

By: Nan Jensen, FCS Agent

Fruits and Vegetables on their own are very healthful and necessary to living well. But the fruits and vegetables at your local produce may be covered in pesticides and other chemicals that will make them less healthy for you. One way to avoid these unwelcome additions to your salad is to go organic. One big drawback to organic foods, including produce, is they tend to cost 50% or more than their conventionally grown counterparts.

If you want to purchase organic yet maximize your food dollar, consider the advice from the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., that recommends going organic on the "dirty dozen" - types of produce that are most susceptible to pesticide residue:

• Celery


• Peaches


• Strawberries


• Apples


• Domestic Blueberries


• Nectarines


• Sweet Bell Peppers


• Spinach, Kale, and Collard Greens


• Cherries


• Potatoes


• Imported Grapes


• Lettuce

Now that you know the organics it is worth spending the extra money on, check out next Thursday’s post; The Clean 15. Learn which produce you can buy that doesn’t necessarily need to be organic.