Published: August 01. 2010 2:00AM

By Susan Schwartzkopf

5 Most Important Foods to Buy Organic

By Susan Schwartzkopf

Not all of us can afford to go 100 percent organic every time we shop. The solution? Focus on those things that come with the heaviest burden of pesticides, additives and hormones. Here’s a list of our recommendations:

• Strawberries are one of the most toxic-laden foods available in our country. United States growers are allowed to use 500 pounds of pesticides per acre of strawberries. Even worse, out-of-season berries are usually grown in countries with more relaxed laws about pesticides. Because strawberries absorb liquids easily, pesticides are absorbed into the strawberry more readily than they would be in some other foods.

• Rice is found in everything from baby food to snacks. Pesticide Action Network (PANNA) studies have found over 40 pesticides used in rice production, 15 of which are considered types that have ill effects on the human body or groundwater systems.

• Milk is used in many recipes, and children drink it by the glassful. According to Dr. Alan Greene, Stanford University clinical assistant professor of pediatrics, there are several reasons to opt for organic milk:

It is produced without synthetic hormones. A large percentage of dairy companies routinely inject their cows with growth hormones to make them produce more milk. Growth hormones are powerful. Even trace amounts can cause dramatic changes in living beings.

It is produced without antibiotics. Antibiotic overuse is a major public health problem. One of the main places where antibiotics are used is agriculture. Organic milk comes from cows that have not been treated with antibiotics, so it doesn't contribute to the growing problem of bacterial resistance.

It is produced without harmful pesticides. Agricultural pesticides are widespread — they can even be measured in raindrops falling from the sky, fog rolling over the hills, fresh snow and in water we drink. Organic dairy reduces pesticide exposure because it comes from organic cows that are fed food grown without chemical pesticides.

• Green beans are next on our things-to-buy-organic list. The EPA has at least 60 pesticides on file that can be used on green beans. Like strawberries, many of the off-season crops are grown out of the country, where regulations are more relaxed. Some of these countries allow the use of pesticides that the United States has made illegal.

• Meat is a no-brainer. The reasons to choose organic meat are similar to the reasons for choosing organic milk. While meat does not necessarily have a lot of pesticide residue, it does have huge amounts of growth hormones and antibiotics.

Consumers can reduce their pesticide exposure by 80 percent by avoiding the most contaminated fruits and vegetables. Source: Environmental Working Group