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Organic vs. Non-Organic: The Dirty Dozen™ and The Clean Fifteen™

By Kyrie Collins, Macaroni KID Highlands Ranch-Parker-Castle Rock-Lone Tree Publisher May 7, 2023

Several years ago, my boys and I visited my grandparents in Oregon. My grandfather was teasing me about my "politically correct fruit," which means I bought organic apples.

I replied, "Grandpa, this is the same kind of fruit you ate when you were a kid, but they didn't call it organic. They just called it food!"


Why Eat Organic?

We have been eating mostly organic produce and meat for several years. My personal experience is that organic fruits and veggies simply taste better.

Whether organic fruits and vegetables are more nutritious than their non-organic counterparts has not been determined. Some studies have shown no significant difference, while others have found organic produce to be higher in antioxidants and specific nutrients like zinc and vitamin C.

Certainly, ingesting chemicals regularly can't be good for us. When I lived in California, the people who worked on the strawberry farms wore Hazmat suits when they sprayed the fruit with pesticides.

HAZMAT SUITS! Just sayin'.



Understanding Labels

Food can be labeled "100% organic" (contains only organically produced ingredients and processing aids), "organic" (contains 95% or more organic ingredients), or "made with organic ingredients" (contains at least 70% organic ingredients). 

Organic meat means that the animals are not given antibiotics or growth hormones and are fed organic feed. Organic beef tends to be leaner and higher in omega-3 fatty acids than grain-fed cattle.

Also, the overuse of antibiotics in healthy animals may be contributing to an increase in antibiotic-resistant bacteria, according to a report by the non-profit group Keep Antibiotics Working.


Making It Affordable

Some people have not switched to organic produce simply because of the cost. Organic foods tend to be more expensive because organic farming is more labor-intensive and tends to produce smaller amounts of food. 

If you want to make the switch to organic, there are ways you can reduce your costs:

  • Watch for sales at local grocery stores on seasonal produce, then stock up and freeze some for later.
  • Many of the stands at local Farmers Markets are organic and have great prices. Bonus: you are supporting the local economy. 
  • Visit an organic pick-your-own farm like Berry Patch Farms in Brighton for a good selection at reasonable prices, plus a fun family adventure.
  • Buying directly from an organic rancher might be your best option for meats. Each year, we split a half-side of beef with another family, and our cost comes to about $5/pound for everything from ground beef to NY Strip to roasts.

The Dirty Dozen™ and The Clean Fifteen™

If you've considered moving toward more organic veggies, start with the produce on the Environmental Working Group's "Dirty Dozen" list. These are the fruits and vegetables with the highest levels of pesticides and chemicals.

  1. Strawberries
  2. Spinach
  3. Kale, collard, and mustard greens
  4. Peaches
  5. Pears
  6. Nectarines
  7. Apples
  8. Grapes
  9. Bell and hot peppers
  10. Cherries
  11. Blueberries
  12. Green beans

The following foods comprise the EWG's "Clean Fifteen" list, which is the produce least likely to be contaminated with pesticides.

  1. Avocados
  2. Sweet corn
  3. Pineapples
  4. Onions
  5. Papayas
  6. Sweet peas (frozen)
  7. Asparagus
  8. Honeydew Melon
  9. Kiwi
  10. Cabbage
  11. Mushrooms
  12. Mangoes
  13. Sweet potatoes
  14. Watermelon
  15. Carrots