Organic produce and farmer's markets

Now, organic produce is generally good because it means that the produce has few or no chemicals that are bad for you (some environmental factors being uncontrollable). However, organic produce does tend to be more expensive. Luckily, farmer's markets are a great way to get local, organic, and often sustainably grown produce at great prices. Produce may vary more in quality, but in general, you can find higher-quality produce at farmer's markets and varieties of produce that are difficult to find at supermarkets (e.g. heirloom tomatoes and rainbow carrots). Evidence also suggests that much of the produce at farmer's markets is now priced at or below supermarket prices, particularly for organic produce (http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19980909&slug=2770839).

But back to organics. Since they can be more expensive and times are tight, I would recommend buying organic at least for the "dirty dozen"--produce that, when grown conventionally, requires higher dosages of pesticides and chemicals to fight off disease and bugs. According to the Environmental Working Group, which took samples of thousands of produce over 7 years, these are:
1. Peach
2. Apple
3. Bell pepper
3. Celery
4. Nectarine
5. Strawberries
7. Cherries
8. Kale
9. Lettuce
10. Imported grapes
11. Carrot
12. Pear

One way to minimize pesticide exposure from this conventionally grown produce is to peel it when possible, as in the cases of apples, pears, and peaches. Other types of produce that contain high levels of pesticides are Spinach and Potatoes, included in other "dirty dozen" lists. Luckily, there is also a "Clean 15" list for the produce that represents the lowest risk when bought conventionally. This is as follows:
1. Onion
2. Avocado
3. Sweet corn
4. Pineapple
5. Mango
6. Asparagus
7. Sweet peas
8. Kiwi
9. Cabbage
10. Eggplant
11. Papaya
12. Watermelon
13. Broccoli
14. Tomato
15. Sweet potato (yam)

Due to pesticide drift from neighboring farms, other sources of contamination, as well as dirt and pests, all produce should be washed, whether organic or not. In addition, note carefully whether food you buy is 100% organic or just "organic," which allows some ingredients to be conventionally grown. For more information on produce safety and organics, you can check out www.ewg.org.