Organic Is Old-Fashioned

One of the most common questions I get asked is; Does it really make a difference if I eat Organic?
 
Organics aren't new - they are what our grandparents grew on their farms before factory farming took over our country.  Before mass production, farmers used concoctions that were naturally occurring; think scarecrows and ladybugs.  Now, in order to make money; farmers are forced to use chemical pesticides to bring in a cash crop, or they just can't make a living...
These completely scientifically engineered chemicals are designed to KILL pests, and are are next to impossible to wash off - not to mention, the plant's root systems have sucked up all of those toxins.  There are more and more studies pointing to the dangers of commercial pesticides and the damage they cause to human beings.  Pay a little more now for Organics, or pay A LOT more later for disease.
In the mean time, here is the list I go by to save money.  I always buy the "dirty dozen" organic - and I allow myself to buy what's on the "Clean 15" list conventionally.  It's a good way to start dipping your toes into the Organic waters if you are still holding out.  Try it; it'll take you back to your grandma's kitchen...
The Dirty Dozen
The Environmental Working Group conducts over 51,000 tests on produce and publishes the worst polluted fruits and vegetables every year. ALWAYS buy these items organic.  It’s more expensive, but any crop that is certified organic (and labeled organic) has not been sprayed with pesticides. For a crop to be organic, farmers are not allowed to use bio-engineered genes (GMOs), synthetic pesticides, petroleum-based fertilizers, or sewage sludge-based fertilizers.
According to the EWG, the following fruits and vegetables are the “Dirty Dozen.” This means, even after washing the produce, they are the most contaminated with pesticides and chemicals. Here is the “Dirty Dozen” of 2011, starting with the worst offender:
Dirty Dozen of 2011
1. Apples (also affects apple juice, jelly, & applesauce!)
2. Celery
3. Strawberries
4. Peaches
5. Spinach
6. Imported Nectarines
7. Imported Grapes
8. Sweet Bell Peppers
9. Potatoes (all root vegetables should be organic to be safe, they absorb more elements from the soil)
10. Domestic Blueberries (all berries really)
11. Lettuce
12. Kale and Collard Greens
The Clean 15
Fruits and Vegetables that are Lowest in Pesticides. The following fruits and vegetables have the lowest amounts of pesticide residues, so they’re the safest to eat without going organic.  
Clean 15 of 2011
1. Onions
2. Sweet Corn (but it is most likely GMO!)
3. Pineapples
4. Avocado
5. Asparagus
6. Sweet Peas
7. Mangoes
8. Eggplant
9. Domestic Cantaloupe
10. Kiwi
11. Cabbage
12. Watermelon
13. Sweet Potatoes
14. Grapefruit
15. Mushrooms