How this helps you: Choose organic produce when buying anything listed on The Dirty Dozen. And while we always encourage buying local and organic, if money's tight, then it's not going to kill you to buy conventional from the second group. As the EWG says, "The health benefits of a diet rich in fruits and vegetables outweigh the risks of pesticide exposure."
What's new this year? Once again, apples, strawberries, and spinach are included in the Dirty Dozen. Blueberries and lettuce fell off the list, but cherry tomatoes and cucumbers are on there.
The Dirty Dozen for 2013
Apples
Celery
Cherry tomatoes
Cucumbers
Grapes
Hot peppers
Nectarines (imported)
Peaches
Potatoes
Spinach
Strawberries
Sweet bell peppersDirty Dozen Plus: Kale/collard greens and Summer squash
The Clean Fifteen for 2013
Asparagus
Avocados
Cabbage
Cantaloupe
Sweet corn
Eggplant
Grapefruit
Kiwi
Mangoes
Mushrooms
Onions
Papayas
Pineapples
Sweet peas (frozen)
Sweet potatoes