Top "Cleanest" Fruits and Vegetables in the Produce Section

Like the dirty dozen of produce, there is a list of the top cleanest produce you can purchase that is not organic. These are least likely to contain pesticide residue.

Here's the Cleanest:
Bananas
Kiwi
Mangos
Papaya
Pineapples
Watermelons
Asparagus
Avocado
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Corn
Onions
Peas

When organic is not available, here's some tips to protect you from "non-organic" produce:

• Buy fresh vegetables and fruits in season.
• Trim tops and the very outer portions of celery, lettuce, cabbages, and other leafy vegetables that may contain the bulk of pesticide residues.
• Peel and cook when appropriate, even though some nutrients and fiber are lost in the process.
• Eat a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. This would limit exposure to any one type of pesticide residue.
• Wait until just before preparation to wash or immerse your produce in clean water. When appropriate, scrub with a brush.
• Special soaps or washes are not needed and could be harmful to you, depending on their ingredients. Read the label!

From the Berks Conservancy Green blog - http://berksconservancy.blogspot.com/