Organic Fruit? Or Conventional?
Plus, Making Fruit Recipes from Scratch
With What You Have On Hand

Have you ever heard of The Dirty Dozen? It's a list of the Top 12 fruits and veggies that are the dirtiest and most pesticide-laden out there.

Here are just the non-organic fruits that appear on this Top 12 Dirty Dozen list:

1. Apples
2. Peaches
3. Nectarines
4. Strawberries
5. Imported Grapes

(The missing 7 of the Dirty Dozen are the "dirty veggies".)

It's extremely important that you write these top pesticide-laden fruits (and veggies) down, memorize them, tattoo them on your body, whatever you have to do to remember to purchase these as organic fruit every time you shop.

Alternatively, there is a list out there called "The Clean 15", those fruits and veggies that contain the least amount of pesticides, in case you can't afford to purchase (or don't have access to) organics:

1. Pineapple
2. Mango
3. Kiwi
4. Papaya
5. Cantaloupe
6. Grapefruit

(The missing 9 are the "clean veggies", which include tomato and avocado, even though these are "technically" fruits.)

Okay, so you're armed with the fruits you need to buy organic. But how do you know if they're TRULY organic? Very simply. You know those little stickers that are attached to fruits and veggies? Here's a general rule about the numbers on these stickers:

• If it's a four-digit number, that means it's conventionally grown;
• If it's a five-digit number beginning with a 9, that means it's organic;
• If it's a five-digit number beginning with an 8, that means it's genetically modified (GMO).

"Sassy, I don't have access to organic fruit where I live. What should I do?"

Great question.    ;)

You can peel the fruit of its skin. The only thing you need to know is that this doesn't remove the pesticides from the INSIDE of your fruit. The fruit did, after all, eat these pesticides and herbicides in order to grow so they've now become a part of the fruit itself. However, washing and/or peeling your fruits will certainly go a long way to removing the harmful substances for you.

Be sure to check for Farmer's Markets in your area. How can you beat just-picked fruits (and veggies) grown near you. In fact, the conventional fruits/veggies from Farmer's Markets grown by local farmers could very well be of better quality than some organics that are shipped for days to your local grocery store.

Or if you get the chance, join a local CSA group (Community Supported Agriculture), or start one up yourself. CSA's support your local farmers and the prices are usually incredibly reasonable -- for FRESH, ORGANIC produce! I love what Michelle from Brooklyn has to say about her experience with a CSA. Fun!    :)

Need some further guidance?

Click here to locate a food co-operative or CSA near you. Here in Reno, Nevada, our gor-geous Great Basin Co-op ALWAYS has fresh, organic produce, most of it locally grown.

And if by some chance you live in an area that has NOTHING like any of this, start your own buying club. I'm sure your community will be happy to participate. Go for it!

How To Select Apples

Choose apples that are firm and solid...and ORGANIC. Beware of mushy spots, or those that are in some way bruised. Sometimes the skin may have a small tan rough spot, and this is fine and may actually indicate a very tasty apple.

How To Clean Apples

Rinse under running water and pat dry.

Apple Flavor Matches

Create your very own vegan apple recipe with some of your favorite ingredients from this list of foods that match perfectly with apples.

Choose apricots that are firm and plump, with a pretty yellow/orange/red color. Allow to ripen at room temperature, and store in the fridge for up to 5 days in a closed container. To hasten ripening, place in a paper bag and keep closed and away from light.

How To Clean Apricots

Rinse under running water and pat dry.

Apricot Flavor Matches

Create your very own vegan apricot recipe with some of your favorite ingredients fro

Bananas turn yellow when ripened, and are best purchased while still a little green to allow them to ripen on your countertop. Bananas are ripe when small brown specks appear. The riper the banana, the softer the banana.

How To Clean Bananas

No need to wash first. Simply peel.

Banana Flavor Matches

Create your very own vegan banana recipe with some of your favorite ingredients from this list of foods that match perfectly with bananas.

When selecting strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries, choose berries that are firm. When buying a batch, you're likely to find 1 or 2 mushed or overripe berries -- be sure to discard these right away so they don't make the rest of the batch sad looking.

ALWAYS WASH BERRIES JUST BEFORE USE. Storing wet berries hastens their decay. They can be left on the counter top to ripen for a day or two, but then place in the refrigerator to stop the ripening process (strawberries are the exception).

In addition to the above, here are some extra berry tips...

Strawberries - Always choose organic strawberries. Once picked, strawberries won't ripen further. So be sure to choose berries that have a deep red color and attached green caps. Avoid strawberries that are dull in color or have green or yellow patches. Purchase strawberries just a few days prior to using as they're extremely perishable, and rinse just before using. Medium-sized strawberries are usually the most flavorful. Usually available year-round, they're best when in season, which is spring through mid-summer.

Blueberries - When choosing blueberries that are already packaged, shake the container a bit to be sure they move around freely; if not, it could mean berries are smooshed and bruised inside. Keep blueberries away from water until ready to eat since water causes them to decay. There's a whitish waxy protective surface naturally built into the blueberry that's supposed to be there and is completely edible. Blueberries are best when in season, mid-spring through mid-fall.

Raspberries/Blackberries - Always choose organic raspberries. Raspberries are some of the most perishable fruit out there, and should be GENTLY rinsed just before use so they retain their delicate shape. Blackberries are similar, but slightly hardier and don't have to handled quite as gently, although care should be taken. Be sure to look for berries that are firm and bright -- avoid those that are mushy or moldy; if you find some in your batch, discard before storing in the fridge for 1-2 days.

How To Clean Berries

Rinse under running water just before eating. Rinse only the amount you'll eat; don't store berries when wet.

Strawberry Flavor Matches

Create your very own vegan strawberry recipe with some of your favorite ingredients from this list of foods that match perfectly with strawberries.

There are many delicious citrus fruits, and this section will focus on four of them: Grapefruit, lemon, lime and orange. When choosing you citrus fruits, look for skins that are smooth. The fruit should be brightly colored, and feel heavy compared to its size. Avoid those with soft spots or other obvious damage.

How To Clean Citrus

Rinse under running water and pat dry.

Grapefruit Flavor Matches

Create your very own vegan grapefruit recipe with some of your favorite ingredients from this list of foods that match perfectly with grapefruit.

Choose cranberries that are firm to the touch as this indicates the freshest and tastiest berries. You can actually store unwashed cranberries in the refrigerator for 2-3 months. When you remove them from the fridge, they may appear wet, which is fine. But if they're shriveled, sticky, or otherwise looking sad, then toss.

How To Clean Cranberries

Rinse under running water just before eating.

Cranberry Flavor Matches

Create your very own vegan cranberry recipe with some of your favorite ingredients from this list of foods that match perfectly with cranberries.

Figs should have a very faint delectable sweet aroma. If they smell sour, they likely are. You can allow figs to sit out on your counter to ripen for a day. Once ripened, fresh figs should be kept tightly covered in the fridge and enjoyed within 2 days. Dried figs should also be kept tightly covered in your cupboard and used within a few months; any longer and they become very dry and brittle.

How To Clean Figs

Rinse fresh figs under running water, remove stem, and pat dry.

Fig Flavor Matches

Create your very own vegan fig recipe with some of your favorite ingredients from this list of foods that match perfectly with figs.

Choosing a kiwi is very similar to choosing an avocado. To begin with, be sure the skin is smooth and free from soft spots or bruising. When gently pressed in the palm of your hand, a ripe kiwi will have a slight give to it. If it's still hard, leave it sit out on your countertop at room temperature until ripe. At this point you can leave out at room temperature or refrigerate.

How To Clean Kiwi

Rinse under running water and pat dry just before eating.

Kiwi Flavor Matches

Create your very own vegan kiwi recipe with some of your favorite ingredients from this list of foods that match perfectly with kiwi.

Choose melons that are heavy for their size. Beware of mushy spots, or those that are in some way bruised. Pick up the melon and firmly hit it with the palm of your hand. If it sounds hollow, you may have a winner. Sometimes the rind may have small tan rough spots, and this is perfectly acceptable. In fact, I always look for melons that have these rough spots because it usually indicates a very delectable melon.

In addition to the above, here are some extra melon tips...

Cantaloupe - Look to the end opposite the stem; it should be slightly soft and nicely fragrant. If it smells too strong, then it's likely overripe. If it's green, then let it sit on your counter for a few days until it's ripened and has turned a pretty cream or yellow color. Then place in your refrigerator. Once cut, cantaloupe can only stay unrefrigerated for 2-4 hours before it starts to break down and become inedible AND dangerous due to various bacteria that have likely formed. Scary! Who knew?    ;)

Watermelon - Look for a creamish color on one side of the melon that looks different from the rest of the rind. This is the side that was resting on the ground while ripening. If this marking isn't there, then chances are it was picked prematurely and the taste will be affected.

Honeydew - Unripe honeydews are whitish-green, and when mature turn a creamy yellow color. Look for those that have smooth and shiny rind, not a fuzzy one.

A Casaba's skin should be bright yellow.

Crenshaw (my all-time favorite melon) will be yellow or creamy white.

How To Clean Melons

Rinse under running water and pat dry.

Choose a papaya that is mostly yellow with a slight give when pressed with your fingers. Be sure to smell your papaya - there should be no strange odor.

How To Clean Papaya

Rinse under running water and pat dry. Cut in half and remove seeds. Do not eat peel.

Papaya Flavor Matches

Create your very own vegan papaya recipe with some of your favorite ingredients from this list of foods that match perfectly with papaya.

Always choose organic pears. Pears have a very delicate, paper-thin skin and therefore are shipped in their unripened state to avoid damage. Choose pears that are smooth and healthy looking, with no bruises or mold. Sometimes the skin may have a small tan rough spot, and this is fine and may actually indicate a very tasty pear. Pears are ripe when they can be gently indented with your thumb.

How To Clean Pears

Rinse under running water and pat dry.

Pear Flavor Matches

Create your very own vegan pear recipe with some of your favorite ingredients from this list of foods that match perfectly with pears.

When selecting your pineapple, smell the area near the stem; it should smell sweet -- if it smells musty or nasty, put it down and move on. Secondly, be sure there are no soft spots or bruises, and beware of darkened "eyes".

Once pineapples are picked, their ripening process is complete, so they will not ripen any further; however, if you leave them to sit out on your counter top, they will get juicier and sweeter. The area near the base of the pineapple is usually the juiciest and sweetest. After letting your pineapple sit on your counter top for a couple days, place in a bag in the fridge until ready to use.

How To Clean Pineapples

No need to clean them -- simply slice.

Pineapple Flavor Matches

Create your very own vegan pineapple recipe with some of your favorite ingredients from this list of foods that match perfectly with pineapples.