I guessed that apples would be high on the list. I remember raiding a wild apple tree when I was a kid, and *EVERY* apple had a worm in it.
I didn't guess strawberries but I should have. When I had a garden and grew strawberries, they were a nightmare. I littered the whole area with pellets and still couldn't keep the slugs and snails away. In twenty years of trying, I don't think I ever had a year where I didn't throw 90 percent of the strawberries away.
I'm surprised by some of the others, though. Cucumbers? Cherries? Tomatoes? They were all easy. I never had a problem with cukes. Birds would often raid my cherry tree, but I still had enormous yields. Tomatoes are always a challenge due to tomato worms, but they mostly eat the leaves not the fruit. I typically had twenty tomato plants and would just examine them daily to find and pull off the worms. I guess that will be impractical if I have 200 plants.
Each year, the American non-profit research organization Environmental Working Group (EWG) releases its “Dirty Dozen” list, featuring the fruits and vegetables that rank highest in pesticide residue. The EWG recommends, "If your options or budget are limited, focus on choosing organic versions of the Dirty Dozen to get the biggest benefit for your family." Here is the 2016 list.
12. Cucumbers
11. Cherry Tomatoes
10. Sweet Bell Peppers
9. Tomatoes
8. Spinach
7. Cherries
6. Grapes
5. Celery
4. Peaches
3. Nectarines
2. Apples
1. Strawberries
http://www.msn.com/en-us/foodanddrink/foodculture/buy-these-organic-the-%E2%80%98dirty-dozen%E2%80%99-produce-list/ss-BBrI50K?srcref=rss&FORM=MH146X&OCID=MH146X#image=1
Gold is $1,581/oz today. When it hits $2,000, it will be up 26.5%. Let's see how long that takes. - De 3/11/2013 - ANSWER: 7 Years, 5 Months
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