Everyone says you should buy organic. While I think a lot of organic foods are good, I say you should buy local before worrying about organic. A lot of local foods are organic also.
Then, I hear the argument that people on tight budgets cannot afford organic
produce. I do understand this issue. Trust me! As a single mom who at one point in her life relied on Food Stamps to make the food budget ends meet, it is hard to justify the increased cost of organic produce. Again, I now go to buying local and as close to the source as possible as it is less expensive.
So, let me tell you a few things about organic produce. In all cases, it is not your best produce buy. There are several fruits and vegetables that you should purchase organic if at all possible. The reason comes from these particular items having been found to have a high pesticide content when not organic. The list varies from source to source but just slightly. I am listing, side by side, two separate lists I happened about today. The one on the left comes from Sparkpeople.com and the one on the right from the Environmental Working Group.
Peaches Peaches
Apples Apples
Bell Peppers Sweet Bell Peppers
Celery Celery
Nectarines Nectarines
Strawberries Strawberries
Cherries Cherries
Kale Pears
Lettuces Grapes (Imported)
Imported Grapes Spinach
Carrots Lettuce
Pears Potatoes
To save money, both groups – Sparkpeople.com and the Environmental Working Group – have also put together a list of the produce that is the least contaminated with pesticide residue. That is not to say there is no contamination but it is less than with other items. Again, Sparkpeople on the left and EWG on the right.
Onions Onions
Avocados Avocados
Sweet Corn Sweet Corn (frozen)
Pineapple Pineapples
Mangoes Mango
Asparagus Asparagus
Sweet Peas Sweet Peas (frozen)
Kiwis Kiwi Fruits
Cabbage Bananas
Eggplant Cabbage
Papaya Broccoli
Watermelon Papaya
Broccoli
Tomatoes
Sweet Potatoes
Now, there are many other factors to take into consideration when buying produce but if organic is you main concern, you should realize these areas. To pay an extra 20 cents per pound – or more – to get organic bananas is probably not cost effective to the family on a budget.
Do you make a conscious effort to buy organic fruits and vegetables? If so, why? If not, why not?
Sources: http://www.organic.org/articles/showarticle/article-214
http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=740
Nicki's Nook 
Hi Nicki – I try to buy from our local farmer’s market and local farm stands as much as possible, which works great in the summer, but isn’t an option during the Midwestern winter. Off-season I do try to buy organic. I also try to keep us eating seasonally as much as possible, which I find is both cheaper and much more tasty.
Kristen – I try to buy local more than organic. The farmer’s market here is not all that great but several farm stands are. The market in Ithaca is marvelous.
I am a weirdo in today’s world in that I try to NOT buy organic. I think the quality is inferior and it bothers me how much more land it takes to produce the food. I make sure I wash things well, and go with the product engineered to last longer and sprayed to keep the bugs out. I realize this is not exactly mainstream, but it is how I look at it.