From non-organic strawberries to green beans and spinach, certain fruits and vegetables make the Environmental Working Group’s “Dirty Dozen” list each year. Government lab tests found pesticide residue in nearly all non-organic grapes, peaches, strawberries, green beans, and leafy greens like kale. 

This Environmental Working Group (EWG) makes an annual “Dirty Dozen” list for grocery shoppers. This list is intended to inform shoppers about the top non-organic fruits and vegetables with detectable levels of pesticides. This year, mustard greens, collard greens, and kale topped the list with the most pesticide residue. Reports detected 103 individual chemicals, while hot peppers were next with 101 chemicals. 

Health experts regularly encourage people to eat more fruits and vegetables, organic or not. If consumers are concerned about pesticide exposure, they can use the EWG’s “Dirty Dozen” and “Clean 15” lists  to make better choices for them and their families. Continue reading to learn more about these lists. 

Which Fruits And Vegetables Are On The “Dirty Dozen” List For 2024?

According to the EWG, the following produce items had the highest levels of pesticides by government testing analysis. Keep in mind that the following fruits and vegetables are not listed in any particular order of pesticide residue. 

• Strawberries
• Spinach
• Kale, collard greens, and mustard greens
• Peaches
• Grapes
• Cherries
• Nectarines
• Apples
• Blueberries
• Bell and hot peppers
• Green beans
• Pears

What Pesticides Were Found In The “Dirty Dozen”?

The EWG report noted that four of the five most frequently detected chemicals were fungicides. Two of these fungicides, pyrimethanil and fludioxonil, had the highest concentrations of any pesticides found in the dozen produce items. According to reports, these fungicides are known endocrine disruptors, interfering with the body’s hormone systems responsible for growth and reproduction. 

The reason that fungicides are more commonly detected in non-organic produce items is because they are applied to plants during the growing process. This is to help prevent or completely remove fungus, and they are applied post-harvest to keep produce mold-free during transportation. Before the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) tests for pesticides, the items are peeled, scrubbed, or washed. Despite the cleaning or peeling, testing still detected 254 different pesticides on fruits and vegetables, including the 209 different pesticides on the “Dirty Dozen” list. 

What About The “Clean 15” List For 2024?

The EWG also makes an annual list of non-organic produce that has the least amount of pesticides detected in lab tests. The great news about the foods on this year’s “Clean 15” list is that 65% of the food samples did not test positive for pesticide residue. Those 15 fruits and vegetables are listed below in no particular order:

• Papaya
• Avocados
• Kiwi
• Pineapple
• Asparagus
• Watermelon
• Sweet corn
• Mushrooms
• Sweet potatoes
• Frozen peas
• Onions
• Honeydew melon
• Carrots
• Cabbage
• Mangoes

You Should Still Eat Fruits And Vegetables

You can limit your exposure to pesticides, even if you cannot buy organic produce. Many people choose non-organic produce over organic produce because it is less expensive. If you choose to buy non-organic produce then you can feel confident in buying the items on the “Clean 15” list. Reserve your budget to buy organic versions of the produce items on the “Dirty Dozen” list. Additionally, health experts encourage people to thoroughly wash produce items with water and a baking soda or vinegar solution to help remove pesticide residue. Peeling the produce can also decrease the exposure to these chemicals. 

Clinical dietitians say that the benefits of eating fruits and vegetables outweighs the risks of pesticide exposure from certain non-organic produce items. All fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and legumes contain beneficial nutrients. Incorporating more plant-based foods into your diet will only benefit you in the long-run. The “Dirty Dozen” list is not intended to scare people away from eating healthy foods, despite their non-organic nature. The point is to simply inform shoppers so they can make decisions appropriately for themselves and their health. 

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Levant Bistro started 10 years ago as a food blog. They use organic ingredients to ensure that every meal is enjoyable. Their menu marks their items with notes regarding what is vegan, nut-free, dairy-free, and more. They encourage people with allergies to be aware of what they can and can’t eat, but will make sure they find exactly what they’re looking for.

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A neighborhood farmer’s market offers a beautiful bounty of fresh foods that smell and taste even better than they look. You can experience fresh seasonal produce, baked goods, local spreads and dips, all while supporting your local economy. When you eat and buy local, you experience a deeper connection to your food. 

An essential part of a healthy diet is the consumption of fresh produce items. Now, you can purchase fruits and vegetables at most grocery stores, but do you know much about them? Do you know how or where they were grown? Are they pesticide-free and do they contain GMOs? These are the questions you can ask local growers when you shop at a roadside stand or farmer’s market. The food is always fresher and you get to know the people who bring that food to your plate. 

Local Food Is More Nutritious

Fruits and vegetables are great sources of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and other necessary nutrients. Produce items lose some of these nutrients during transportation, though. For example, vitamin C levels in produce items start to decline after harvesting. Depending on the storage of produce items, antioxidants may be higher or lower. Additionally, store bought produce may have been sprayed with chemicals to preserve appearance. Local produce arrives at the market the same day or the day after harvest. That’s why shopping locally gives you the biggest nutritional bang for your buck. The items don’t travel far and they provide you with essential nutrients. 

Money Remains In The Community

Anyone can support a big business, and it’s near impossible to avoid that. You do have the opportunity to keep money within your community by buying locally, though. Keeping your money in the local economy means that your money goes to whoever you purchase from. If you buy from a farmer, the money goes from you to him or her. Buying from an national chain means that the money leaves the community as soon as you make the purchase. 

Local Food Is Safer

How can food be considered “safer” than other food? Well, the more steps involved to get the food from the source to your grocery store or plate, the more chances there are for contamination. You may not know it, but most food ships from international growers. There may be issues with harvesting, washing, shipping, cross contamination, and distribution. These are the things that you don’t think about when you purchase an apple or cluster of tomatoes. Additionally, buying food locally helps to reduce carbon footprint, in that local food travels from a shorter distance to markets and stores. Some local foods may even come from a block away!

Local Food Is The Freshest

As mentioned previously, there is no importing or extensive transportation involved when you buy local food. Have you ever taken a bite out of a juicy strawberry from a farmer’s market? It’s transformative, right? The avocados are creamier and richer and tomatoes seem more plump and flavorful. Local produce that you find at farmer’s markets may come from the farm that very day. Because there is no importing required, the fruits or vegetables can be harvested later. They don’t need to be plucked from the plant when they aren’t ripe. 

Build Local Connections

When you buy food from the person who grows it, there’s an innately deeper connection. You can ask about the growing conditions, where the farmer learned his/her trade, or why the produce tastes so delicious. Talking to farmers helps deepen your understanding of the area in which you live. If you are an aspiring gardener, the farmers can usually offer helpful tips to yield you the best crop possible. There are stories about your community you may learn from buying locally, and this can promote more happy, healthy relationships. 

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Chef Redbeard walks you through how to pick fresh produce from the grocery store!

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Farms across the United States sell their produce to grocery stores, or they set up at farmers’ markets and community supported agriculture (CSA) programs. The beauty of buying local ingredients is that you develop a connection with the people who grow your food. Not only do you support them directly, cutting out the middle man that is the grocery store, but you get the freshest quality produce straight from the source.

Some people live in areas where COVID-19 cases are extremely high, and they don’t want to venture to grocery stores or farmers’ markets. This is where CSAs come into play. They often provide delivery or no-contact pickup services for customers who want weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly bundles from the farms.

Now more than ever, black-owned CSAs and farms need your support. According to 2019 statistics from the US Department of Agriculture, less than 2% of farmers in the U.S. are black. Out of the 3.4 million farms in the U.S., only 45,508 farms are black-owned. Compare that number to the 949,889 black farmers in 1920. This decrease in black-owned farms comes from a long history of white landowners taking black-owned land. According to Dr. Gail Myers, founder of Farms to Grow, a nonprofit that helps black farmers become more sustainable, the government has a history of rejecting applications from black farmers for USDA support programs.

How Black-Owned CSAs Support The Community

The community involvement of CSAs is paramount. Many black-owned CSAs introduce children to gardening, they offer employment for formerly incarcerated people, and teach people skills that they can transform into livelihood. Another aspect of these CSAs is their commitment to bringing fresh foods to areas with limited access to fresh produce. These areas are known as food deserts, and they exist disproportionately in black and Hispanic neighborhoods.

Everyone deserves access to fresh produce. Instead, the presence of convenience stores, limited grocery stores, and fast food chains in these neighborhoods has diminished the health and wellness of community residents. The choice to eat processed or fast food is not a choice; rather, it is the only option. Fortunately, black-owned farms and CSA programs are trying to change this, offering wonderful locally grown produce to their communities. They need your support to continue these services. Support the following farms and CSAs if you have the means and want fresh, healthy food.

Logan’s Gardens, Los Angeles, California

The father-son duo of Jimmy and Logan Williams run Logan’s Gardens, which is located in the Silverlake neighborhood of Los Angeles, CA. The farm produces over 1,000 varieties of rare and heirloom plants, including blueberries, tomatoes, and peppers. You can find their produce at the Santa Monica Farmer’s Market or the Hollywood Farmer’s Market, where all sorts of people eagerly wait to buy their produce.

Swanson Family Farm, Hampton, Georgia

Located in Hampton, Georgia, Wayne Swanson, commonly referred to as Farmer Wayne, raises cows, sheep, goats, and pigs on the family farm. With the help of his wife and son, Swanson Family Farm run’s a buyer’s club that connects directly with consumers. He continues to run a sustainable farm during COVID-19, attributing the success of his farm to his optimal conditions for his livestock. He treats his animals with respect, allowing them to graze freely, access ponds, and drink clean water. They plan to open an additional farm in New Jersey by the end of Summer 2020.

Soul Fire Farm, Petersburg, New York

On the 80 acres of Soul Fire Farm in Petersburg, New York, you can find a variety of vegetables, fruits, herbs, pasture-raised meat, forest products, and chickens. Since 2010, the farm has provided vegetable and egg delivery programs for low-income community members. The farm also helps train farmers of color, and it prides itself in being an educational farm that stands up for the rights of farmworkers and everyone impacted by the food system.

Gangstas To Growers, Atlanta, Georgia

Abiodun Henderson started this agribusiness training program for at-risk and formerly incarcerated youth four years ago. Gangstas to Growers offers a three-month program, in which participants work on a cooperative farm, attend seminars, and engage in yoga classes. Participants earn wages and gain skills that propel them into production and business management. So, they learn how to grow food and transform that food into retail products. The goal is to assist 500 young people by 2025.

Fresh Future Farms, North Charleston, South Carolina

Founded by Germaine Jenkins and Todd Chas in 2014, Fresh Future Farms aims to bring healthy food to economically challenged communities. There are communities surrounding the farm that limited grocery stores. The stores in these areas contain hardly any produce items. This farm has an on-site grocery store, where they sell produce straight from the farm. We are talking about harvest-to-order food people! The store also assists people with challenging economic circumstances.

Soilful City, Washington, D.C.

Soilful City has a mission to cultivate fresh produce for under-resourced individuals in the D.C. metro area. Xavier Brown heads the urban farm, which partners with grassroots organizations to create sustainable agriculture programs. All of Brown’s efforts help build stronger communities that have a greater focus on health and locally sourced food.

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Carrot noodles are great because they are rich in beta-carotene, which is a great antioxidant that can improve skin health and eyesight. The lime and ginger sauce adds a refreshing zing to your palate, and it really brings the dish home.

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Cinnamon and sweet potatoes is a match made in flavor heaven. The signature spice of cinnamon complements the sweet potatoes, and the cranberries add a bright and unique freshness. This is definitely a healthy dish to make for the holidays. If you bring this to Thanksgiving, people are going to wonder why you didn’t bring more!

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This is one of the best raw sushi recipes we’ve come across. Grinding raw almonds with garlic and herbs to make a nut “rice” is an ingenious idea. With this recipe, you can excite your taste buds with food that seems like it isn’t actually raw (even though it is). If you have certain raw vegetables that you want to add inside the roll, go ahead and include it in the mix.

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Quinoa always needs some extra flavor, which is exactly what the butternut squash and cranberries do. Drizzle the sweet yet tangy balsamic vinaigrette over the salad and you’ve got yourself one delicious meal. Fitting with the season, add some pumpkin seeds! If pumpkin seeds are your type of crunch, add some chopped almonds, walnuts, or pecans.

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When you are on a raw foods diet, you want to keep eating different recipes to keep your taste buds interested. This broccoli tabouli is the perfect side to an entree, or you can eat this as your entire meal for a real boost of vitamin K. The addition of the pomegranate gives this tabouli a refreshing bite, and the pumpkin seeds add a great crunchy texture.

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