Dirty Dozen

After today's visit to the farmer's market, I started thinking about the dirty dozen (while handling a bag of waxy, shiny cherries). It freaked me out. Especially now that I give Owen fresh produce.

• Should I buy all organic? But that's so expensive...
  

• If I don't buy organic should I peel the produce? But peeling takes away lots of nutrients...plus, try peeling a grape or a blueberry...
  

• Isn't it okay to buy non-organic produce with a hard protective covering (that you don't eat)? But current research suggests that some of the pesticides do penetrate into the fruit either from the soil or through the skin...
  

Since buying all organic just doesn't seem very economical, I also researched natural ways to clean produce. Here is what I found:

• 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, 2 tablespoons of baking soda, 1 cup (250ml) of water. Put the mixture in a spray-topped bottle. Spray the fruit or vegetables, leave to sit for 5--10 minutes, then rinse well.
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 2 tablespoons white vinegar (distilled works best), 1 cup (250ml) water in a spray-topped bottle. Spray the fruit or vegetables, wipe and eat.

For particularly waxy fruit or vegetables, try this mixture:

• 1 cup (250ml) water, half a cup (115ml) vinegar, 1 tablespoon baking soda and dash of grapefruit seed extract. Spray this onto the produce and leave for an hour before rinsing and eating.

Some people swear by vinegar, and use one part vinegar to three parts water. This is great for removing bacteria, it removed 98% of bacteria, compared to just under 85% for scrubbing. The quickest way to do this at home is to keep a bottle of vinegar with a spray-top -- just spray the fruit or vegetables with vinegar, then rinse under a tap. If you've got longer to spare, leave fruit or vegetables soaking for 10--20 minutes in a vinegar/water solution, then rinse.

Now for the dirty dozen and clean fifteen:

Dirty Dozen (Buy these organic)

The Dirty Dozen fruits and vegetables have the highest pesticides residue, based on data compiled by the United States Department of Agriculture.

1. Apples
2. Celery
3. Strawberries
4. Peaches
5. Spinach
6. Nectarines (imported)
7. Grapes (imported)
8. Sweet bell peppers
9. Potatoes
10. Blueberries (domestic)
11. Lettuce
12. Kale/collard greens

Clean 15 (Lowest in pesticides)

The Clean 15 contain the least pesticide residue, meaning if budget or availability is an obstacle to buying organic, you can buy conventionally grown varieties of these fruits and vegetables.

1. Onions
2. Sweet corn
3. Pineapples
4. Avocado
5. Asparagus
6. Sweet peas
7. Mangoes
8. Eggplant
9. Cantaloupe (domestic)
10. Kiwi
11. Cabbage
12. Watermelon
13. Sweet potatoes
14. Grapefruit
15. Mushrooms

Just one more thing for me to think about when grocery shopping...