Contaminated with what? Where?

I assume it's contamination by pesticides and herbicides. Good reasons to buy organic.

I will never buy commercial strawberries. They soak up pesticides like a sponge.

Well, I would take ”contaminated” to mean at least unwashable residues, but more likely pathogens. Which is why I asked.

I like that there is a list, but a bit underwhelmed to know a very popular chemical like glyphosate isn't tested for because they know how popular it is. Lack of info for me, so I went and looked up the USDA report about it. Here's the most recent Pesticide Data Program document from the USDA, 2021: USDA 2021 Pesticide Data Program

I've bought organic for decades minimally on the basis of supporting good farming, since there are so many contradictory conclusions based on study designs.

Sleevendog, thank-you for answering my questions!

I use this list to plan what to grow on my own. Trying right now to figure out how to make room for strawberries . . . also blueberries, which I just recently learned were heavily treated with pesticide. I didn't realize that because I used to pick gads from a wild patch that was left from an abandoned homesite and produced prolific berries without any human intervention . . . However, this was not on a huge blueberry farm, which is sending out neon signs to any blueberry pests--STOP HERE, ALL YOU CAN EAT!

Our peach tree, planted in honor of the late folksinger John Prine. We planted it for its ornamental value, did not expect such a prolific peach harvest so soon!

"Blow up your TV, throw away your paper. Move to the country, build you a home. Plant a little garden. Grow a lot of peaches. Try and find Jesus, on your own!" Chorus from "Spanish Pipedream" by John Prine.

What a jem. Saw him perform in Austin and a few years later with LucindaWilliams in Calgary.

Really should be the DirtyThirty. I would put celery and tomatoes back on the list.

They do focus heavily on testing foods for infants and young children. I don't purchase raisins but read that they would be on the top of the dirty dozen list if they included such a thing. I did recently buy a small bag of colosal yellow raisins but they are organic. Soaked dried fruits are so good in some curries and rice dishes.

Organic cooperatives seem to be forming all over the country. I have a choice of four different boxes. Order once a month. Not a CSA. This time of year the weight is closer to 18-20 pounds with all the heavy winter squashes, cabbage, sweet potatoes. Lots of greens so they must be using high tunnels. This coop is about 75 farms. The other i have ordered is a big HudsonValley farm. Recently in the NYTimes.

We have been paying 75cents-1.50 per pound for produce for the past few years. One box is a soup/stock box of maybe broken carrots, etc. Not old or rotten. About 50cents a lb.

It is so ironic that I live in the middle of the country but there are virtually no produce farms here that sell to the general public, or even you-pick one close. Forget CSAs. The best you can do is befriend a prolific and generous home gardener.

We have farms around here where you can pick, but none are Organic. I understand the Farmers' Market over by Kaiser is all organic, but I've never been to that one.... maybe should.

Wonder why pesticides would be used on blueberries. i have grown for years, never really saw pests on them. maybe I am just in a good area. I do not remember any problem with strawberries, other than occasional slug. Not enough problems with pears to bother spraying. Apples and peaches are pretty bad, peaches especially

I have never used anything on my garden. But small scale i can use row covers when needed and a king sized bed mosquito net over my three giant blueberry bushes close to harvest.

Big farms cannot do that. Organics with biodiversity healthy soils can avoid most pesticdes .

I use nothing at all but small scall home gardens can easily take a loss one year then enjoy an abundance of another crop. I can put a 30foot row cover over my greens but not possible for a large farm.

It is so ironic that I live in the middle of the country but there are virtually no produce farms here that sell to the general public, or even you-pick one close. Forget CSAs. The best you can do is befriend a prolific and generous home gardener.

Not true. you have a couple local coops and CSA's and farms local to you that are trying to do just what you want at afordable prices. Google, it is right in your back door.

Stop complining and eat good fresh food.