The Environmental Working Group is a nonprofit organization that lobbies on a wide range of policies involving the protection of human health and how it relates to the conservation and sustainability of natural resources. One of the resources that they publish is a Shoppers Guide to Pesticides in produce. EWG is fully supportive of you eating more fruits and vegetables.They note that "the health benefits of a diet rich in fruits and vegetables outweigh the risks of pesticide exposure." However, at the same time, they want you to be aware of the typical pesticides that you might find in conventionally raised produce so that you can minimize the associated health risks.
EWG has a list of "good" and "bad" fruits and vegetables as they relate to pesticides. While it is not always feasible to buy everything organic, this list gives you a starting point of where the higher health risks lie and which produce would be more beneficial to buy as organic if you are able.
We all have to make choices about the type of consumers we are and what kind of agricultural practices we are willing to support. While making a statement with your purchasing practices is a good place to start your activism, we all know that it is neither easy or feasible to make a statement with every purchase. But, start somewhere. Make a intentional choice. Support practices that are not harmful to your health or the environment.
EWG Shoppers Guide
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