Perhaps you're wondering if all produce is created equal when it comes to pesticide residues. The answer is no; in general, fruits with thick rinds (like melons) will tend to have pesticides concentrated in the rind and not the fruit. Apples are heavily sprayed, and should be purchased from an organic orchard. Grapefruit, tangerines, and oranges have a relatively low pesticide risk. Of course, if you plan to use the rinds, buy organic!

Most berries are heavily sprayed with pesticides, but blueberries are among the lowest. Peaches are also rank high for pesticides, but plums have less. Among grapes, California grapes are low in pesticide residues and are sold between May and December. Grapes sold between December and May are imported, however, and are usually high in pesticide residues.

As for vegetables, celery, potatoes, bell peppers, and spinach are the ones most highly contaminated, and should be organic. Asparagus, avocados, broccoli, cauliflower, onions, sweet corn, peas, and mangos are the least contaminated, with very few detectable pesticide residues.

I located a really nifty wallet guide which helps to keep all of this information handy when shopping. Download the Environmental Working Group's pesticide residue report card at their website (www.foodnews.org/reportcard.php).

It is unknown just what percentage of the pesticides enters the fruit or vegetable. To complicate matters, these products contain not one, but numerous different pesticides, exposing people to up to 20 pesticides per day. And even organic produce can become cross-contaminated, depending upon an organic farm's proximity to commercial farms. All produce should be thoroughly scrubbed under running water after being brought home, as this reduces the amount of any pesticide that exists. If you're the type of person who does not like to peel her vegetables, buy organic.

Article Source: http://www.ArticleBlast.com