Buying groceries on a college budget can add up, especially those foods that are organically grown.

Many wonder if buying organic food is worth the cost.

“There is no proven nutritional and food safety difference,” said Angela Shaw, assistant professor of food science and human nutrition, about organic and conventionally grown foods.

“Someone would have to consume pounds and pounds of pesticides to pose a health risk,” Shaw says.

Although the difference isn’t proven regarding human health, many still would like to lessen their impact on the environment by buying organic. Buying organic doesn’t have to mean breaking the bank.

Instead of buying an organic version of each item on your grocery list, spend your money where it really counts — on organically grown fruits and vegetables and not on pre-packaged goods.

Pesticides are used during the growing process for produce, but those that are used on organic foods are natural and not synthetic, according to Shaw.

Foods that contain the official “USDA Organic” symbol aren’t grown with synthetic pesticides and don’t contain any chemical residues.

The Environmental Working Group, an organization invested in environmental health research and an advocate for healthier consumer products, published a “2012 Shoppers Guide to Pesticides in Produce” after they ran 51,000 tests on produce to determine residue levels.

While it doesn’t advocate for all fruits and vegetables to be bought organic, its “dirty dozen” list is comprised of produce with the highest levels of pesticides. The following produce might be the best to buy organically, if you can’t buy organic everything:

• apples
• celery
• sweet bell peppers
• peaches
• strawberries
• nectarines (imported)
• grapes
• spinach lettuce
• cucumbers
• blueberries (domestic)
• potatoes
• green beans
• kale/greens

The Environmental Working Group also provides a “clean 15” list in which the fruits and vegetables listed contain the lowest pesticide content. This group of produce has less exposure to insects and often have an outer covering or peel that protects against pesticides, therefore farmers don’t have to use as many pesticides on this group of produce, according to Shaw. If you’re on a budget, it may be worth it to buy the conventionally grown versions: 

• onions
• sweet corn
• pineapples
• avocado
• cabbage
• sweet peas
• asparagus
• mangoes
• eggplant
• kiwi
• cantaloupe (domestic)
• sweet potatoes
• grapefruit
• watermelon
• mushrooms

Whether or not you choose to go organic, here are some other tips for buying organic food:

• Buy seasonal organic foods. Local farmers’ markets will typically have seasonal produce that’s affordable and is guaranteed fresh.
• Use coupons. Many organic companies will offer printable coupons on their website (or even Facebook) so that you can save a little extra money when purchasing their products.
• Don’t fall for organic “junk foods.” Just because pop has an organic label on it doesn’t mean that it is any healthier for you than regular carbonated beverages.
• Look for generic brands. Many grocery stores now carry their own organic version of certain foods, and they may cost less than their brand name counterparts.
• Buy in bulk. Buying organic foods in a large quantity may actually save you money in the long run. Many nonperishable organic foods have a long shelf life, and many fresh fruits and vegetables can be frozen for later use.