
For those looking to incorporate organic into their produce purchases, Reganold recommends this list developed by the Environmental Working Group at www.ewg.org, ranking fruits and vegetables from high to low by their tested pesticide loads.
Peaches 100
Apples 96
Sweet bell peppers 86
Celery 85
Nectarines 84
Strawberries 83
Cherries 75
Lettuce 69
Grapes, imported 68
Pears 65
Spinach 60
Potatoes 58
Carrots 57
Green beans 55
Hot peppers 53
Cucumbers 52
Raspberries 47
Plums 46
Oranges 46
Grapes, domestic 46
Cauliflower 39
Tangerines 38
Mushrooms 37
Cantaloupe 34
Lemons 31
Honeydew melon 31
Grapefruit 31
Winter squash 31
Tomatoes 30
Sweet potatoes 30
Watermelon 25
Blueberries 24
Papaya 21
Eggplant 19
Broccoli 18
Cabbage 17
Bananas 16
Kiwi 14
Asparagus 11
Sweet peas, frozen 11
Mango 9
Pineapple 7
Sweet corn, frozen 2
Avocado 1
Onions 1