This is a large reason why we buy organic, and as locally sourced as possible. I really wasn't as conscious of it as I am now with a little one. Sourcing the best produce is so important. We have a local organic produce delivery once a week, and opening the box is so wonderful every time. It smells like fresh earth and usually comes with spiders and earwigs! It's a little on the pricey side; however, every dollar is a vote cast - so i would rather spend my money supporting local grass-roots organizations and local farmers (plus $40/week for organic produce delivered to your door is not too bad to feed a family of 3)

Sweet potatoes are on the "Clean 15" list, which is precisely why I make them my staple tuber. Conventional sweet potatoes are cheaper than conventional white potatoes around here, and organic white potatoes are super pricey. Sweet potato ftw!

Sweet potatoes are part of the "clean 15" meaning they have low pesticide residue. According to some studies I've read most of the pesticides are in the skin so you can avoid a bunch by not eating those.

Washing with water and/or other solutions as well as the cooking process (blanching and frying) helped to eliminate most of the pesticide residues from the potato tubers.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0278691500001770

Strangely enough, all my local grocery stores that aren't "speciality" (trader joes, whole foods) sell organic potatoes for the same price per pound as conventional. Specialty and health stores tend to mark them up. Also, my farm delivery service actually sells organic local potatoes for much less than any groceries.

Even if there isn't an enormous difference pesticide or taste wise, I choose the organic every time. If something I want is unaffordable as organic, I just don't buy it. There are plenty of alternatives. If nothing else, wild harvest sells organic frozen fruit/veg that is often priced the same and if not, just a few ¢ more per pound. For instance, organic fresh strawberries can go for $5/lb, but frozen they're $3, which is only .25¢ more than conventional fresh. Raspberries are almost impossible to find organic and fresh, and when you can they can be $6 for a half pint. But a half pound frozen organic is $3, which cheaper than fresh conventional.

I grow my own with 4 sq ft many people can grow up to 100 lbs ( you can see it here http://tipnut.com/grow-potatoes/ ). If I didn't grow them then I would be buying them from the store and washing them. I don't by organic, for cost reasons and also because of my suspicions. If anything I'd just buy local.

I churn through a ridiculous volume of sweet potatoes and always buy the organic variety (1.79 a pound and worth every penny.). I bought 13.*lbs yesterday. My store doesn't even sell conventional ones, just about 5 varieties of organic. I still peel them just in case.

I don't eat that much that I don't grow myself, but I can tell you that they are all difficult to grow and store for more than a short time without some sort of help. I'd go organic for these, but only if I knew who was doing the growing, or if I knew the certifying body and could look them up.

I would stick to locally grown or organic only. I think all of those that you listed and then some, are treated with Bud Nip if they are conventional. Apparently this chemical cannot be washed off as it penetrates the entire fruit/vegetable.

http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu/profiles/extoxnet/carbaryl-dicrotophos/chlorpropham-ext.html

Ever diligent about broadening its reach, Walmart seems to have id'd the organic crowd as a new market. Will be interesting to watch -- wouldn't be surprised if their entry into this until recently "fringe" business pushes organic foods into the mainstream. I'd think it can't help but improve prices for consumers, and would like to think that it would generate more business for organic farmers.

Up until a week or so ago, I was able to get ilaneer (baby coconuts) at my local Super Walmart -- for about $3 each (vs $5 at another local organic provider). But they haven't had them lately -- wonder if it's a seasonal thing? Hope they didn't stop stocking them.

The absolute NONSENSE that the EWG pushes is a a farce.

Check out the post below to see the REAL STORY - here is what an ORGANIC FARMER says, in part,"Chief among EWG's flaws is the fact that there is no routine field testing of organic crops under current organic certification standards. None. I guarantee you that everyone at EWG is fully aware of this deep flaw, and it draws into question whether the organic food EWG promotes is even really organic in the first place, which in turn undermines their whole argument before it even gets out of the gate. And yet, the media gleefully plays along promoting EWG’s list of alleged “dirty” foods.

Here is a link

http://john-ray.blogspot.com/2011/08/organic-fanatics-get-black-eye-great.html#links