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Dirty Dozen: Top 12 Fruits and Vegetables to Buy Organic

If you're starting to shop organic, begin with these 12 fruits and vegetables to minimize exposure to pesticides.

Navigating the Organic Produce Aisle
Lettuce ranks #8 on the Environmental Working Group's top 12 fruits and vegetables to buy organic. Try fresh-market lettuce in Cooking Light's Stone Fruit Salad with Toasted Almonds recipe.
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Navigating the Organic Produce Aisle

Choosing organic can minimize your exposure to pesticides, herbicides, and other chemicals used in traditional farming. Plus, researchers at the University of California at Davis found that, on average, organic produce contains more vitamin C, iron, and more magnesium compared to traditionally-grown foods. While the scientific research is still developing, the organic grocery aisle is expanding.

If you’re beginning to shop organic, the Environmental Working Group suggests starting with the following 12 fruits and vegetables that are most commonly treated with high concentrations of pesticides.

To get your taste buds motivated, we've paired each food with a recipe to maximize its flavor.

Next: Peaches >

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