9/23/2012

Always Buy Organic: potatoes. America's favorite vegetables have been found to contain up to 35 different pesticides. Since pesticides are sprayed on the ground, they can seep into the earth over time -- directly where potatoes are growing. More crops mean more chemicals building up in the soil. If you can't find organic potatoes, look for sweet potatoes -- they are grown with significantly fewer chemicals because they are naturally more resistant to insects and crop disease.

9/22/12

Always Buy Organic: coffee. Almost all coffee is grown and harvested outside of the United States, and most of it is done in countries with lax environmental regulations. A USDA-certified organic roasted coffee means the beans were grown following strict U.S. laws prohibiting the use of any chemical pesticides or fertilizers. Remember, since it's impossible to wash coffee beans before brewing, whatever is left lingering on conventional beans will likely end up in your java.

9/21/12

Always Buy Organic: apples. Conventional apples are one of the most heavily sprayed crops, with more than 40 chemicals used to keep insects and fungus at bay. If finding organic apples is difficult, do the next-best thing and always buy organic applesauce and juice. Since it is impossible to know how well apples were cleaned before being processed into these popular snacks, err on the side of green by choosing organic.