Did you know you can limit your pesticide intake by as much as 80% if you avoid the most pesticide-contaminated produce at your local grocery store?

The Environmental Working Group unveiled their 2010 Dirty Dozen – the  12 fruits and vegetables you should always buy organic.

Since 1995, the organization has taken the government data and identified which type of produce has the most chemicals. The best way to avoid pesticides is to purchase USDA-branded organic food, as any pesticide use is forbidden.

Here’s a closer look at the 2010 Dirty Dozen:

1. Celery
A whopping 64 chemicals can be found in celery due to its lack of protective impermeable skin. Buy organic celery, or choose alternatives like onions or broccoli.

2. Peaches
62 chemicals are regularly applied to these soft-skinned fruits. Safer alternatives to organic peaches include watermelon, tangerines, oranges, and grapefruit.

3. Strawberries
59 different pesticides have been detected in strawberries. Out-of-season strawberries are most likely imported from countries that have less-stringent regulations for pesticide use. Can’t find organic? Safer alternatives include kiwi and pineapples.

4. Apples
Like peaches, apples are typically grown with poisons to kill a variety of pests, from fungi to insects. Tests have found 42 different pesticides as residue on apples. Scrubbing and peeling doesn’t eliminate chemical residue completely, so it’s best to buy organic when it comes to apples. Peeling a fruit or vegetable also strips away many of their beneficial nutrients. Can’t find organic? Safer alternatives include watermelon, bananas, and tangerines.

5. Blueberries
New on the Dirty Dozen list in 2010, blueberries are treated with as many as 52 pesticides, making them one of the dirtiest berries on the market.

6. Nectarines
33 different types of pesticides are found on nectarines. Can’t find organic? Safer alternatives include, watermelon, papaya, and mango.

7. Bell peppers
Peppers have thin skins that don’t offer much of a barrier to pesticides. They’re often heavily sprayed with insecticides – as many as 49 different pesticides. Can’t find organic? Safer alternatives include green peas, broccoli, and cabbage.

8. Spinach
New on the list for 2010, spinach can be laced with as many as 48 different pesticides, making it one of the most contaminated green leafy vegetable. Could this be a reason for all of the spinach recalls this year?

9. Kale
Traditionally, kale is known as a hardier vegetable that rarely suffers from pests and disease, but it was found to have high amounts of pesticide residue when tested this year. Can’t find organic? Safer alternatives include cabbage, asparagus, and broccoli.

10. Cherries
Even locally-grown cherries are not necessarily safe. Government testing has found 42 different pesticides on cherries. Can’t find organic? Safer alternatives include raspberries and cranberries.

11. Potatoes
America’s popular spud reappears on the 2010 Dirty Dozen list, after a year hiatus with as many as 37 different pesticides. Can’t find organic? Safer alternatives include eggplant, cabbage, and earthy mushrooms.

12. Grapes
Imported grapes run a much greater risk of contamination than those grown domestically. Only imported grapes make the 2010 Dirty Dozen list. Vineyards can be sprayed with different pesticides during different growth periods of the grape, and no amount of washing or peeling will eliminate contamination because of the grape’s thin skin. Remember, wine is made from grapes, which testing shows can harbor as many as 34 different pesticides. Can’t find organic? Safer alternatives include kiwi and raspberries.

Where do you buy your organic fruits and vegetables? Farmers Markets are one of the safest and most cost-effective places to purchase locally-grown organic produce. Try it out!

This article is part of ConsumerBell’s Food Undressed week, detailing healthy, socially, and environmentally-responsible eating habits and food safety.