Issue No. 12

Pesticides in Produce

Spring is upon us, and there’s no better time to get back into that veggie habit. The sun is out, the days are longer, and fresh, springy produce is more appealing than ever. Perfectly timed with this seasonal shift, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) just dropped their 2024 “Dirty Dozen” and “Clean Fifteen” lists — aimed at informing us, the consumer, on how to avoid pesticides when shopping for produce.

Since 1995, the EWG has been publishing these two important lists annually. If you aren’t familiar, the Dirty Dozen is a list of the twelve non-organic, fresh produce found to contain the highest amount of pesticides. Conversely, the Clean Fifteen”identifies fifteen conventional produce items with the lowest amounts of pesticides. In short, the EWG is urging us to choose organic when buying produce from the Dirty Dozen. When shopping the Clean Fifteen, though, the conventional versions are safe.

However, before we get into the lists, I’m sure you all want to know — is it baloney? I mean, we are talking about fruits and vegetables, after all. The sad truth is – it’s not baloney. Each year, the EWG analyzes the most recent data from the USDA's Pesticide Data Program (methodology here). A total of 46 items are included in their analysis — 12 of which are most contaminated with pesticides, 15 of which are least contaminated, and 19 of which fall somewhere in between. This year, they found that 75% of all conventional produce is coated with pesticides. Worse still, 95% of the items on the Dirty Dozen had pesticide coating. You might be thinking, “Sure, but I’ll just wash my produce thoroughly,” but the USDA actually washes and prepares the produce before testing – the same way we would at home.

That same Dirty Dozen is loaded with fungicides. Conveniently for farmers, fungicides (like fludioxonil, pyraclostrobin, boscalid, and pyrimethanil – none of which I can pronounce), prevent or kill fungal diseases like “powdery mildew” on fresh fruit and vegetables. Not as conveniently, these fungicides have been said to be endocrine disruptors, and correlated with harm to the male reproductive system. Needless to say, these lists contain valuable information and are absolutely worth referencing when shopping.

The Dirty Dozen

If you buy these, buy organic to avoid heavy pesticide exposure.

Strawberries
Spinach
Kale, Collard, and Mustard Greens
Grapes
Peaches
Pears
Nectarines
Apples
Bell and Hot Peppers
Cherries
Blueberries
Green Beans

The Clean Fifteen

65% of the Clean Fifteen samples had “no detectable pesticide residues at all.” If buying organic isn’t for you, shop this list to enjoy pesticide free produce!

Sweet Corn
Avocados
Pineapple
Onions
Papaya
Sweet Peas
Asparagus
Honeydew Melon
Kiwi
Cabbage
Watermelon
Mushrooms
Mango
Sweet Potatoes
Carrots

The In-Between

These are fruits and vegetables that were tested but didn’t make it into either the Dirty Dozen or the Clean Fifteen. To be safe, I would buy the organic version.

Tomatoes
Winter Squash
Cherry Tomatoes
Celery
Lettuce
Tangerines
Cucumbers
Summer Squash
Broccoli
Potatoes
Plums
Eggplant
Raspberries
Grapefruit
Snap Peas
Oranges
Cantaloupe
Bananas
Cauliflower

Washing Your Produce

Even when buying organic or from the Clean Fifteen, it is still important to wash your produce! Below is the method I use. Yes, the vinegar may be overkill, but it’s the way my mom taught me to do it!

Rinse your produce thoroughly under cold water, removing any dirt.
Fill a large bowl with cold water and add distilled white vinegar (1/4 cup per gallon of water).
Submerge the produce in the bowl. Optional, but I like to add baking soda too (1/4 cup per water). The fizz that results from adding both gives me peace of mind that the mixture is cleaning the way it needs to! Let it sit submerged in this mixture for 5-10 minutes.
When the timer is up, rinse thoroughly again with cold water (this removes any vinegar taste).
Dry the produce with a paper towel or dish cloth before storing them or enjoying fresh.
Pro tip: These produce storage bags keep things fresh for longer.

This seems obvious but always avoid using soap or bleach :)

So, with that, enjoy your produce! I’ll be making this Carrot Salad with my conventional carrots, thank you very much. I also just discovered the mandoline for the first time (via @FannySinger @MiaRigden) so I’ll be thinly slicing any and everything I can get my hands on. Yes, I bought the protective glove. It’s basically a guarantee that I would slice my hand without it.

Thank you for reading – until next week!

The List