Environmental Working Group (EWG) has released it’s 2010 shopper’s guide to pesticides. For the first time, blueberries are showing up on the “Dirty Dozen” list, which is pretty shocking to me. I’ve always thought (and it’s been stated in several cook books that I own and a few other places) that if organic blueberries are unavailable that conventional ones were okay because the pesticide levels on them were pretty low. Well, they now rank #5 on the worst list. I try to buy only organic produce for us and I still wash the majority of it in a fruit/vegetable wash, but I do admit that I have been slacking lately. I’ve indulged a few times on imported conventionally grown grapes (#12 on the bad list), but I have always washed them beforehand. It really grosses me out to see people eating them straight out of the bag as they leave the grocery store! Eww! Not only are organic fruits and vegetables better for your health, they are the best choice for the environment too. I’m vowing now to only purchase certified organic produce from now on whenever possible and I will totally avoid those foods on the “Dirty Dozen” list if I can’t get them certified organic.

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