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Business & Tech

When It's Best to Go Organic

What produce presents the most pesticide risk? Here's a guide.

Updated on 2/27/11 at 9 a.m. with a list of items available at Sunday's Harbor Area Farmers Market.

While not everything at our local farmers markets is organic or vice versa, there's little doubt that the amount of organic produce that can be had there is a major draw.

Ten of the Alamitos Bay market's regular vendors sell only organic or at least some organic items. (See a map of of the vendors stalls at right.) But even those of us who might be strict about buying only organic produce might have to bend the rules about consuming non-organic produce sometimes—or are uncertain about the source.

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What are the produce items most likely to contain pesticides? The environmental advocates at the Environmental Working Group recently put together their list of "The Dirty Dozen" based on the latest data from U.S. Department of Agriculture testing. All of them are likely to be found, locally grown, at local farmers markets, though not necessarily in organic form or at this time of year. They are:

  1. Celery
  2. Peaches
  3. Strawberries
  4. Apples
  5. Blueberries
  6. Nectarines
  7. Bell peppers
  8. Spinach
  9. Cherries
  10. Kale/collard greens
  11. Potatoes
  12. Grapes (imported)

AOL's WalletPop also recommends that you try to buy these in organic form, if your budget allows:

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  1. Lettuce
  2. Blueberries (imported)
  3. Carrots
  4. Green beans (domestic)
  5. Pears
  6. Plums (imported)
  7. Summer squash
  8. Cucumbers (imported)

The Environmental Working Group also has another list "The Clean 15"—which are those least likely to pose a risk. With the exception of pineapples, mangos and kiwis, these are available (in season) at local farmers markets:

  1. Onions
  2. Avocados
  3. Sweet corn
  4. Pineapples
  5. Mangos
  6. Sweet peas
  7. Asparagus
  8. Kiwis
  9. Cabbages
  10. Eggplants
  11. Cantaloupes
  12. Watermelons
  13. Grapefruit
  14. Sweet potatoes
  15. Honeydew melons

A wallet-size version or iPhone app can be gotten here.

In abundance and looking very good at the Sunday market, around 8:45 a.m.:

  • strawberries
  • carrots
  • cauliflower
  • broccoli
  • cabbages (red and green)
  • spinach
  • lettuce (romaine, red leaf, butter) and mixed greens
  • citrus fruits (navel oranges, satsumas, Page and Fairchild mandarins, lemons, grapefruit, pomelos, Minneola tangelos)
  • red grapes
  • apples
  • pomegranates
  • cilantro
  • beets
  • brussels sprouts
  • artichokes
  • potatoes (several varieties)
  • garlic
  • onions

Also available:

  • watermelon radishes
  • English peas
  • snow peas
  • snap peas
  • thin-stalked asparagus
  • green beans
  • chard
  • blackberries
  • red raspberries
  • blueberries
  • parsnips
  • mushrooms
  • Romanesco broccoli
  • bok choy
  • fennel

Harbor Area Farmers Market (Long Beach Southeast). Alamitos Bay Marina, on East Marina Drive, one-quarter mile south of East Second Street, just west of Pacific Coast Highway. Most Sundays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (though some vendors are ready to sell at 7 a.m.). www.goodveg.org.

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