Reduce The Risk Of Pesticide Exposure

To reduce the risk of pesticide exposure, follow some of the food-safety tips below to insure the safest and tastiest produce:

1. Eat organic when you can. If this option is too costly or not readily available, select organic produce to replace the most contaminated fruits and veggies from the table below.

2. Choose conventionally grown produce from the least contaminated fruits and veggies from the table below.

3. Buy locally grown produce when in season. You may want to inquire about pesticide use. Check with your state's cooperative extension service for a list of farmers' markets.

Your Guide to Eating Green

Growing Conditions
 
Organic:
Organic foods are produced according to certain production standards. For crops, it means they were grown without the use of conventional pesticides, artificial fertilizers, human waste, or sewage sludge, and that they were processed without ionizing radiation or food additives. For animals, it means they were reared without the routine use of antibiotics and without the use of growth hormones. In most countries, organic produce must not be genetically modified.

Sustainable:
Sustainable agriculture refers to the ability of a farm to produce food indefinitely, without causing irreversible damage to ecosystem health. While air and sunlight are generally available in most geographic locations,