44 Healthiest, Cheapest Fruits and Vegetables

By
Melissa Breyer
Melissa Breyer
Editorial Director
  • Hunter College
  • F.I.T., State University of New York
  • Cornell University
Melissa Breyer is Treehugger’s editorial director. She is a sustainability expert and author whose work has been published by the New York Times and National Geographic, among others.
our editorial process
Melissa Breyer
Updated October 11, 2018
44 Fruits and Vegetables
CC BY 2.0. madichan

madichan/CC BY 2.0
The environment and health watchdog, Environmental Working Group (EWG), has done it again with the publication of their list, Good Food on a Tight Budget. The group known for its cosmetics’ toxins database and annual survey of top pesticide-laden foods. They take exhaustive scientific data and translates it into absolutely usable information that allows consumers to make the healthiest decisions. They so rock.

For this list, EWG assessed nearly 1,200 foods and picked their favorite 100 of the most nutritious, most economical and least polluted fruits, vegetables, proteins, grains and dairy items. The prices were analyzed on national averages (but seasonality may affect local costs).

Fruits

44 Fruits and Vegetables

isox4/CC BY 2.0

  • Apricot
  • Avocado
  • Banana
  • Cantaloupe
  • Grapefruit
  • Honeydew
  • Kiwi
  • Nectarines (domestic)
  • Papaya
  • Pear
  • Starfruit
  • Tangerine
  • Watermelon

Starchy Vegetables

44 Fruits and Vegetables

Ahd Photography/CC BY 2.0

  • Corn (frozen)
  • Lima beans (fresh)
  • Potatoes (Potatoes may have more pesticides than other vegetables. Check prices for organic.)

Red and Orange Vegetables

44 Fruits and Vegetables

jzc17/CC BY 2.0

  • Calabaza
  • Spanish pumpkin
  • Carrots
  • Pumpkin (fresh)
  • Sweet potatoes
  • Tomatoes - low sodium, canned

Dark Green Vegetables

44 Fruits and Vegetables

joeysplanting/CC BY 2.0

  • Broccoli
  • Collards
  • Kale
  • Lettuce
  • Romaine
  • Mixed salad greens
  • Mustard greens
  • Parsley
  • Spinach
  • Turnip greens

The Rest

44 Fruits and Vegetables

letouj/CC BY 2.0

  • Alfalfa sprouts
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Cabbage
  • Chayote
  • Pear squash
  • Eggplant
  • Green onions
  • Okra (frozen)
  • Onions
  • Snow peas (fresh)
  • Zucchini, yellow squash, other summer squashes

For the rest of the list, which includes the most nutritious, most economical and least polluted proteins, grains and dairy items -- as well as shopping tools, tips and recipes -- download the complete report.