Summertime is the season with the greatest variety of fruits and vegetables available. They are the perfect fuel for active days with activities like hiking, biking, tennis or a long day of golf. Staying hydrated and well-nourished to match the energy output is key. Luckily, fruits and vegetables are filled with water, clean carbs and fiber to keep you sated for hours.

 

When choosing produce this summer, keep in mind that some crops have a heavier pesticide residue than others. This may influence whether to purchase organic options instead of conventionally grown produce. The 2019 Dirty Dozen list released by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) lists strawberries, spinach, kale, nectarines, apples, grapes, peaches, cherries, pears, tomatoes, celery, potatoes and hot peppers as types of produce with the highest pesticide usage.

 

In contrary, EWG’s Clean 15 includes avocados, sweet corn, pineapples, sweet peas frozen, onions, papayas, eggplants, asparagus, kiwis, cabbages, cauliflower, cantaloupes, broccoli, mushroom and honeydew melons contain the lowest amounts of pesticides. Note that some of United States grown produce is from genetically modified seeds. You may want to choose organic versions of these crops if you want to avoid genetically modified foods.