Farmers use pesticides and herbicides to kill pests, control weeds, and inhibit diseases that can lead to decreased crop production. However, residues of those pesticides remain on crops. Washing fruits and vegetables doesn't remove all the pesticides that may adhere to the skin. The fruits and vegetables of some crops may absorb pesticides, which people would ingest. The Environmental Working Group tests foods for pesticide residues and lists the top offenders each year. EWG advises consumers to look for organic fruits and vegetables whenever possible.
Celery
The Environmental Working group's 2010 study detected 64 different pesticides on celery. Unlike some fruits and vegetables, celery has no tough outer skin to protect it from absorbing all those chemicals.
Peaches
Pests like peaches and farmers spray them with a number of chemicals to combat them. The Environmental Working Group found 62 different pesticides on peaches in their 2010 study.
Strawberries
Strawberries are often imported from countries that don't adhere to the United States' stringent regulations on the use of herbicides and other chemicals. When the EWG tested strawberries in 2010, they detected 59 chemicals on the fruit.
Apples
The EWG found 42 different pesticides detectable on apples, which rank number 4 on the list. Apples rank high in the list of pesticide-contaminated fruits.
Blueberries
Blueberries tested by the EWG were treated with 52 different chemicals. They are among the most contaminated of berries.
Nectarines
Like their relatives, peaches, nectarines are susceptible to different pests, thus, they get treated with lots of pesticides and herbicides. The EWG found residues of 33 different chemicals on nectarines.
Bell Peppers
Bell peppers are another crop routinely treated with a variety of pesticides and herbicides. The EWG detected 49 different chemicals on bell peppers in their 2010 tests.
Spinach
Leafy, green spinach competes with weeds and bugs for space in the gardens and farmers use chemicals to combat them. EWG's 2010 samples of spinach contained 48 different pesticides.
Kale
Kale was another leafy green that contained high levels of harmful chemicals in EWG's 2010 tests.
Cherries
The EWG found 42 different pesticides on cherries in 2010. Some samples of cherries grown in the United States had three times the pesticides of imported fruit.
Potatoes
Potatoes may absorb chemicals from the soil in which they're grown. EWG's 2010 tests turned up 37 different chemicals on potatoes.
Imported Grapes
While domestic grape growers don't use as many pesticides and herbicides on their fruit, foreign growers spray crops several times a year. EWG's tests identified 34 different pesticides on imported grapes.
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