Found something else I wanted to share with you this week that isn’t a recipe. I swear, I’ll cook again soon! I actually do have some backdated recipes but I honestly haven’t cooked in over a week, so they just don’t feel “fresh” enough to post.
Anyway, on to the “something” I wanted to share! The Environmental Working Group has released their 2012 Dirty Dozen, Clean 15 list. The Dirty Dozen are the fruits and vegetables that test highest for chemicals, pesticides, etc., and the Clean 15 are the opposite.
And just like last year, the number one most pesticide-laden crop is…
The EWG recommends buying organic apples (or from those farms you are certain do not spray). Celery, sweet bell peppers, peaches, and strawberries also made the list (coincidentally, I buy unsprayed bell peppers, peaches, and strawberries from my farmer’s market all the time!).
And the cleanest produce? Remember, this doesn’t mean they are 100% clean, but show the least amount of chemicals and pesticides on their little produce bodies.
My favorite – onion! Again, another product I usually buy from the farmer’s market but going organic with onion is not as big a concern (though still an option – organic onions are typically well-priced!). Another clean veg – sweet corn (though sweet corn made with Genetically Modified Organisms, or GMO’s, are not labeled in the US. If this is a concern, buy organic or talk to your farmer!).
The EWG also added two foods (two of my favorites!) that showed special concern regarding their contamination with a specific insecticide that, according to the EWG, is toxic to the nervous system:
Kale (and collard greens) and green beans. Again, buy organic or talk to your farmer. Both are still widely available at the market!
My friend Mary from Conscious Kitchen (love her blog name) made helpful and super cute infographics that you can easily print out and stick in your wallet for grocery store trips. Check them out!
Question: Do you shop using the Dirty Dozen rule?
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Where do you get your no-spray peaches? We’ve had a hard time finding those. Local, no-spray apples are also hard to find, and you really pay a premium.
For what we don’t grow ourselves, we try to buy no-spray or organic as much as possible, considering the environmental impact of using pesticides and herbicides — even when they don’t show up much in the foods themselves, the chemicals are still getting into the environment and affecting our air, water, and general ecosystem.
I’m extra conscientious now with a baby eating the food, I want to keep his little system as clean and healthy.
There are a couple vendors at Schlafly Market that sell no-spray! And I *think* Mill’s Apple Farm in Marine (IL) is no-spray but I need to ask them. I don’t eat a ton of apples so I’m not sure about them.
I try to but to be perfectly honest it’s really hard to find organic produce in this area that won’t totally bust our budget.
I’m lucky that both my family and hubby’s garden a ton during the summer months so we have an ample supply of things like lettuce, tomatoes, onions, cucumbers etc.
It’s understandable – you just have to do the best you can. Just the fact that you grow much of your own produce is a huge step! Good for you!