Green Arrow

Since we're all on a tight budget these days, it's easy to choose conventionally grown produce over organic. Have you ever wondered if certain fruits and vegetables should be organic over others? Here is a list of "The Dirty Dozen," fruits and vegetables that SHOULD be purchased from the organic section of the store because the Department of Agriculture says that even after washing, they retain much higher levels of pesticides. (via Apartment Therapy)

Here are the must-buy organic fruits:

• Apples
• Cherries
• Grapes, imported
• Nectarines
• Peaches
• Pears
• Raspberries
• Strawberries

And the must-buy organic vegetables:

• Bell peppers
• Celery
• Potatoes
• Spinach/lettuce

These generally don't have pesticide residue. For the full list of rankings, click here.
Don't worry about going organic with these fruits:

• Bananas
• Kiwi
• Mangos
• Papaya
• Pineapples

Vegetables:

• Asparagus
• Avocado
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Onions

The results are based on an analysis of government tests by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a research and advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C.