Organic fruits and vegetables...are they worth the extra $$?

As a dietitian and chef, I get this question all of the time.  I usually answer it the same way.  If you, can, than yes, you should absolutely buy some foods organic.  Why?  Some foods readily absorb the pesticides and sprays used to keep them alive and help them grow.  Those pesticides aren't necessarily the best for our health...causing cancer and other diseases.  So what should you buy organic?  There's actually a list called the Dirty Dozen and here it is...the foods you should buy organic:

The Dirty Dozen:
Apples
Celery
Strawberries
Peaches
Spinach
Nectarines
Grapes (Imported)
Sweet Bell Peppers
Potatoes
Blueberries
Lettuce
Pineapple
Kale/Collard Greens

If some are good to buy organic, why not all?  Well, studies have shown that there are some fruits/veggies that aren't as likely to harbor pesticides as others.  For those, there really is no sense in spending extra money...spend that money on something else!

The Clean Fifteen:
Avocados
Onions
Sweet Onions
Sweet Corn
Pineapples
Sweet peas
Mango
Asparagus
Cabbage
Cantaloupe
Kiwi
Eggplant
Sweet Potatoes
Grapefruit
Watermelon

Now it's time to get yourself to the grocery store!