The majority of Americans think foods with the word "natural" on them are better and safer than "organic." And yet there are no governmental safety standards for using the word "natural." Natural, in fact, means nothing. It's a happy word, so food companies slap it on anything they can to make their products sell better.

The proliferation of other labels: "beyond organic," "locally grown," "humanely raised," "free range" and "sustainable" adds to the confusion. Therefore, when people are confused  they revert to their primary emotional driver of decisions, which is most often price. So they choose the cheapest food rather than the safest for the planet. That confusion plays right into the hands of the chemical food industry.

In order to guide produce shoppers, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) releases a new list of “dirty dozen” fruits and vegetables each year. These are the fruits and vegetables that have the most pesticide contamination based on the EWG’s analysis of more than 89,000 laboratory tests. Considering this, these are also the foods that you might want to put on your organic shopping list.

When thinking about buying organic, these twelve (12) fruits and vegetables are the first ones to put on your shopping list.

Celery

This veggie is not the richest in vitamins and minerals, but it still has value as a low-calorie, high-water content snack that fills you up without bulking you up. Carla Fynan, RD, a nutritionist at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, N.J., recommends adding peanut butter for a bit of protein and healthy monounsaturated fat. Rinsing and scrubbing celery may help somewhat, but celery’s thin skin lets pesticides penetrate all the way through, so you’re really better off choosing celery from the organic fruits and vegetables section of your grocer.

Non-organic alternatives include Broccoli, Radishes and Onions.

Peaches

This sweet, delicious fruit is high in vitamin C, vitamin A, and fiber. It also has a laxative and cleansing effect on the bowels and is easy for the elderly to digest, says Marvin Kunikiyo, DC, author of the natural health book, Revolutionizing Your Health. You can peel peaches to rid them of some pesticides, but that does away with valuable nutrients, and the skin is so thin that many pesticides penetrate the fruit anyway. Therefore, organic food is really the best choice for this member of the dirty dozen.

Non-organic alternatives: Watermelon, Oranges, Grapefruit.

Strawberries

With their rich color and delicious flavor, strawberries are positively teeming with antioxidants, including vitamins A and C. Fynan says they are also low in calories and great with any number of dishes (salads and cereals) or on their own. You can’t peel a strawberry and rinsing doesn’t do much, so spending a few dollars for the organic food version is a good idea.

Non-organic alternatives: Kiwi, Pineapples.

Apples

You might think that peeling an apple would be the best way to rid it of pesticides, but that peel is a treasure trove of valuable nutrients such as vitamin A, vitamin C, and an antioxidant called quercetin. Instead, rinse and scrub the apple thoroughly or buy organic food to ensure avoiding contaminants from this member of the dirty dozen.

Non-organic alternatives: Bananas, Tangerines.

Blueberries

These tiny berries are antioxidant powerhouses, with a higher antioxidant level than any other fruit or vegetable according to studies. Unfortunately, up to 13 different pesticides have been detected on a single sample of non-organic blueberries. Choose organic blueberries even if you’re on a limited budget when you buy organic food.

Non-organic alternative: Raspberries.

Nectarines

These fruits look and taste a lot like peaches, so it’s not surprising they have some of the same health benefits — low in calories and high in vitamins A and C. Nectarines also have some of the same pesticide problems — 95.1 percent of samples tested positive for pesticides. Rinse or scrub them as much as possible or buy organic food when you can.

Non-organic alternatives: Papaya, Mango.

Bell Peppers

The bright, bold colors of these vegetables, particularly the red ones, are a sure sign that they are brimming with antioxidants, most notably vitamin C. Since you wouldn’t normally peel a pepper, rinse or scrub it as much as possible if you can’t buy the organic version. Cooking also can sometimes reduce pesticide levels, though it also reduces the nutrients you derive from it.

Non-organic alternatives: Green Peas, Cabbage.

Spinach

Spinach is a low-calorie, delicious choice in salads, and that bold green color is an indicator of its rich content of nutrients such as vitamins A and C, calcium, folate, and fiber. Rinsing and drying the spinach before use helps some, but here again, organic food is the best way to ensure low pesticide exposure when it comes to this member of the dirty dozen fruits and vegetables.

Non-organic alternatives: cabbage, broccoli.

Cherries

Cherries have a whole laundry list of helpful nutrients, including vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium, folate, magnesium, and fiber. They also have roughly 42 pesticides on them, according to government testing. A safer bet may be imported cherries, as they have three times less pesticide residue than cherries grown in the United States.

Non-organic alternatives: Cranberries, Raspberries.

Kale and Collard Greens

Most of what was said about spinach, both in terms of nutrients and pesticide levels, also holds true for the dynamic duo of kale and collard greens. But unlike spinach, kale and collard greens are most often cooked, and that does help with some of the pesticide levels but, cooking also reduces the nutrient levels of these leafy greens. Your best bet is to buy organic food to get the most nutrients without pesticides.

Non-organic alternatives: Asparagus, Cabbage.

Potatoes

There are many varieties of potatoes to choose from and many ways to serve them up. People often peel potatoes, which does help reduce the pesticide levels of this root vegetable member of the dirty dozen. The only problem is, that the potato skins are where most of the nutrients of the potato are found. Eating the skin provides greatest benefit because it’s high in fiber, potassium, and vitamin C.

Non-organic alternatives: Eggplant, Mushrooms.

Imported Grapes

In addition to vitamins A and C, red and Concord grapes have a compound in the skin called resveratrol, which seems to provide specific heart-healthy benefits. Since imported grapes were specifically singled out on the Environmental Working Group “dirty dozen” list, check on the origin of what you are buying and choose domestically grown grapes whenever possible.

Non-organic alternatives: Kiwi, Raspberries.

Sources: Everyday Health, Environmental Working Group