The Worst Summer Fruits

Fruits soaked in pesticides shouldn't be making any appearances in your kitchen this season.

Grapes

More pesticides are used on grapes than on any other fruit. Combined, the various samples of grapes used in the 2012 EWG report contained 64 different pesticides.

Strawberries

A single sample of strawberries tested by the USDA contained 13 different pesticides. 

Imported Plums

The most common pesticide found on plums imported from abroad (most commonly from Chile) is iprodione, which the Environmental Protection Agency has dubbed a "likely" carcinogen. 

Pears

In EWG's analysis, 92 percent of the pear samples tested positive for at least one pesticide residue, while 26 percent were tainted with 5 or more pesticides. 

Peaches

Many of the pesticides used on peaches are systemic. They're sprayed on a tree before it bears fruit, but the chemicals wind up getting into the fruit as it grows, and there's no way to remove them. 

Nectarines

Every sample of imported nectarines tested positive for pesticide residues, the USDA found, and the average imported nectarine contained more pesticides by weight than any other food. Domestically grown nectarines didn't fare much better. They contained the same range of pesticides, but at lower levels. 

Cherries

One of the most commonly used pesticides on cherries, carbaryl, is suspected of causing cancer and may lead to neurological diseases such as Parkinson's and to birth defects. 

Blueberries

More than 40 different pesticides were found on blueberries grown in the U.S. 

Apples

Cancer causers, hormone disruptors and neurotoxins have all been detected on apples, 98 percent of which test positive for pesticides. Because they're so popular and are eaten daily by so many people, apples earned the top spot on EWG's list of foods you should always buy organic.