Budget-Friendly Produce Guide with EWG’s Clean Fifteen

Eating clean doesn’t have to be expensive.

EWG can help you make smarter produce shopping choices, highlighting budget-friendly fruits and vegetables with the least amount of pesticide residue. Options include bananas, carrots, onions, watermelon and more.

You can find these and other items on the Clean Fifteen™ in EWG’s recently released Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce™. 

Every year, our scientists analyze Department of Agriculture data about pesticide residues on fruits and vegetables. The Clean Fifteen lists produce with the least residue, and the Dirty Dozen™ lists those with the most.

No pesticide residues were detected on almost 60% of the samples on the Clean Fifteen. When pesticide residues were found on the 15 types of produce, they were generally detected at lower levels and lower toxicity than those found on the Dirty Dozen items.

EWG’s suggestions about what produce to buy are designed to help people who are looking to reduce their overall exposure to pesticides. We’re not trying to deter you from buying produce. It’s always important to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, regardless of where they rank on our lists. 

The guide below aims to help you make informed choices when you purchase fruit and vegetables. Using USDA report data from 2022, which compared the average price per cup of 68 fruits and vegetables, we found the most affordable fruits and vegetables on the Clean Fifteen list.

Some produce on the Clean Fifteen, such as bananas, cabbage, carrots and watermelon, have remained consistently low in price. They tend to be easier to grow and transport, and they don’t spoil as easily as other produce, making them a reliable option for budget-conscious shoppers.

The price of other types of produce can fluctuate because of a variety of factors, including drought, hurricanes, crop diseases and seasonal availability. Since over 60% of fresh fruit and 38% of fresh vegetables sold in the U.S. are imported, according to estimates, their prices can also be affected by import taxes. 

Although the price data used in the USDA report is from 2022, overall fruit and vegetable prices stayed about the same between 2023 and 2025. Meanwhile, the prices of many other foods, such as eggs, meat and coffee, have gone up substantially, according to the Federal Reserve’s Economic Data, which tracks consumer prices. 

Availability will continue to affect produce prices but the information below is a good starting point for planning your grocery list. For extra savings, look for what’s in season or grown locally. For example, oranges are often more affordable in Florida, thanks to the state’s large citrus industry. 

Note: Prices are subject to local availability and may not be accurate for every location.