The organic food market has blown up in the past decade, with more and more people turning to healthy eating. However, eating organic comes at a hefty cost to the wallet and sometimes may not make as much of a difference as manufacturers would have you believe. While going organic is always good, it may not always be economically feasible. With that in mind, here are some foods that you can skip going organic as well as some you shouldn't.

Why "Organic"?
Food labeled as organic is limited in the amounts of synthetic materials used in their production. Most commonly, this restricts the use of chemical pesticides and growth hormones, allowing for a more natural growth. As chemical pesticides are hazardous to human health, certified organic food have been popping up more often in supermarkets due to people becoming more concerned about their health. In the US, the USDA acts as a governing body, certifying organic farms.

Although going organic has many benefits, it has been commercialized in the past few years due to its rising popularity. You can find organic versions of almost every fruit and vegetable at supermarkets across the country but it usually comes at a large price difference over their non-organic counterparts. For those looking to save money, here are some fruits and vegetables you can skip buying organic:

Avocados, Bananas, Mangoes, Kiwis, Papayas, Pineapples, Watermelons
These fruits have thick skins protecting the edible parts from pesticide residue. They should still be washed before eaten, as the skin may contain pesticide residue. As a general rule, fruits with rinds/sin you don't eat is usually safe from pesticides.

Asparagus, Broccoli, Cabbage, Eggplant, Onions, Sweet Corn, Sweet Peas, Sweet Potatoes
These vegetables either have a lower amount of pests and/or are less prone to diseases, therefore requiring much less pesticide use.


Some fruits and vegetables, however, can contain larger amounts of pesticide residue from heavy spraying and buying organic versions of these should take priority over other produce. Here are some fruits and vegetables that you should try to by organic whenever possible:

Celery, Grapes, Strawberries
 Besides heavy pesticide use, these also have the thinnest skin, which absorbs chemicals and makes washing off of pesticide reside almost impossible. Grapes are also often imported and many other countries have less stringent guidelines on pesticide use, leading to a lot of chemical exposure.

Apples, Blueberries, Cherries, Peaches, Pears, Nectarines
Most fruit trees are heavily sprayed with pesticides to ward off the slew of pests. In some cases, over thirty different types of pesticide residue have been found on apples, peaches, and pears. Go organic on these whenever possible and always wash them before eating.

Carrots, Lettuce, Peppers, Potatoes, Spinach
These vegetables have the highest rates of pesticide residue due to the sheer amount of chemicals used in their production. Lettuce and most leafy greens are particularly bad as they're exposed to the most amount of pesticides.

Coffee
Coffee beans are often imported from areas without pesticide use regulations. Besides the health benefits of going organic, certified free-trade and Rainforest Alliance labeled products are also more ethical and friendlier to the environment.

This is just a guideline to the basics of organic fruits and vegetables. For a full list of pesticide use and health ratings, visit Foodnews.org. There are other reasons to go organic, of course, but those are debatable. Some people believe that organic food has more nutrients and no growth hormones but studies have shown that there isn't much evidence to support this. As well, many organic foods aren't even labeled as such due to the work involved in being certified by the USDA. Organic food is usually available at a farmer's market close by, and are always the best option for eating green and cutting down on pollution.

For those that want to know more about organic shopping, check out these books:

The Organic Food Shopper's Guide

Bobbie's Organic Planet: How to Buy Local and Cook Global

The Organic Food Handbook: A Consumer's Guide to Buying And Eating Organic Food