Is organic fruit and veg really necessary?

It's an ongoing debate for many people, not least with themselves when stood in the fruit and veg section of the supermarket - Should I go organic or is it a marketing ploy / waste of money? Am I filling myself and my family with pesticides and other nasties if I don't buy organic? And can I trust that if it says 'organic' on the label, it truly is?

Having done some research for myself on this, I thought I'd share it... 

In organic farming in the EU, artificial chemical fertilisers are prohibited. Instead, farmers develop healthy fertile soil by a combination of crop rotation, using organic matter such as compost and manure, and using clover to fix nitrogen from the atmosphere. Pesticides are also severely restricted and instead, farmers encourage wildlife to help control pests. And routine use of drugs, hormones, antibiotics and wormer is banned. And of course GM crops and ingredients are banned! 

Whilst there is an obvious cost difference to organic farming on the purse, you'll probably have noticed that this is reducing. I've certainly noticed that a lot of organic produce I buy is little more than non organic, if at all sometimes. This is apparently because the cost of oil based fertilisers and chemicals is on the increase. 

Of course buying organic everything is pricey so I wanted to know which produce should I definitely buy organic and which could I more reasonably get away with buying non-organic. I discovered this piece of research from the Environmental Working Group who carry out  a very useful piece of annual research called A Shoppers Guide to Pesticides in Produce. 

The Dirty Dozen (most contaminated first)

1. Apples - these top the list of produce with the most pesticides and chemicals in!
2. Peaches
3. Nectarines
4. Strawberries
5. Grapes
6. Celery
7. Spinach
8. Bell peppers
9. Cucumbers
10. Cherry Tomatoes
11. Snap Peas
12. Potatoes

And rather helpfully, they also list the 15 safest foode, i.e. the ones you don't necessarily need to buy organic versions of:

1. Asparagus
2. Avocados
3. Cabbage
4. Cantaloupe
5. Cauliflower
6. Aubergine
7. Grapefruit
8. Kiwi
9. Mangoes
10. Onions
11. Papayas
12. Pineapples
13. Sweetcorn
14. Frozen peas
15. Sweet Potatoes

Hopefully this goes a little way to helping you decide whether to shop organic or not.

Vee x