When you thought of organic foods in the past, you might have thought of hippies eating organic granola out of an organic hemp sack. Times have changed, and organic foods are no longer only for those who follow a “natural” life. Americans spent 12.2 billion dollars on organic foods in 2004, and we all know hippies can’t buy 12.2 billion dollars in granola. Organic food sales are a rapidly growing industry to say the least.

Organic food is produced without synthetic pesticides, bioengineering, ionizing radiation, and the like. Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy are from animals fed organic grain and given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic farmers emphasize use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality now and for future generations. The EPA estimates that 70% of the pollution in the nation’s rivers and streams come from non-organic farming practices using toxic, chemical-laden pesticides.

The question is: is it worth it to buy organic? Pesticides in non-organic food can be threatening to health, and “>some are said to increase the risk of cancer. At least 73 of the 300 pesticides approved by the federal government are listed as “probable” or “possible” carcinogens, and many of these pesticides are commonly used. Some people say that trace amounts of pesticides won’t harm you, but trace amounts of carcinogens are not welcome to the healthfully-eating active hipster. Some of these chemicals are thought to cause nervous system damage too, particularly in children. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid some foods altogether if they are not organic (check the list below).

So now you want to eat organic, but as a working stiff maybe you can’t afford to fill your grocery cart entirely with organic foods. Don’t fret, some foods are much more important than others to buy organic. Certain foods might contain a particularly harmful pesticide; some fruits and veggies absorb the pesticides used on them while others you can peel off the skin, leaving virtually no pesticides behind.

Foods that you should always buy organic include strawberries, bell peppers, spinach, cherries, peaches, Mexican (winter) cantaloupes, celery, apples, apricots, green beans, Chilean (winter) grapes, cucumbers, cultivated button mushrooms, and wheat.

Foods that are relatively safe to buy non-organic include bananas, mangoes, papayas, pineapple, and corn (usually genetically modified…but let’s not get into that.) If you notice in the link above, their most and least contaminated produce is tested after it’s washed and prepared. This means no matter how bad your OCD gets when you’re washing your veggies, they won’t lose their pesticide contamination.

If you cannot find organic produce, I wouldn’t avoid produce altogether. A large amount and diverse range of produce is an essential part of any healthy diet. You’re probably better off eating only non-organic fruits and vegetables than you are eating only processed foods with red #309 and blue #982. But now that you have a list to work with, try to at least find the organic foods that matter. Now don’t you feel bad for making fun of the organic granola-eating no-shower hippie? Nah, me either.