Produce
Avocados
Avocados sit near the bottom of the residue table: about one conventional sample in eight shows any detection, and the average sample carries 0.15 distinct residues. Because USDA tests avocados peeled and pitted, that is a measurement of the flesh you actually eat — which is why buying organic here changes very little.
Organic upgrade priority
Conventional is a reasonable budget choice
Score 1/100 · about $3.20 a week extra for a household of two
- →Conventional samples index 5/100 against 3/100 for organic — a 2-point difference.
- →At about 4 servings a week, the difference applies to a smaller share of what you eat.
- →Sample confidence is limited, so the score is weighted down by 28%.
Key numbers
- Residue evidence
- 5/100
- Lower residue evidence
- Nutrient density
- 86/100
- Per calorie, across the whole database
- Typical price
- $1.49
- per each · organic +54%
- Servings a week
- 4
- Per person, at typical purchase volume
- Samples
- 837
- Conventional, 2023–2024 · 39 organic
- Data confidence
- Limited
- Set from sample size and year coverage
Organic vs conventional avocados
| Measure | Conventional | Organic |
|---|---|---|
| Samples analysed | 837 | 39 |
| Program years | 2023–2024 | 2023–2024 |
| Samples with any residue | 13% | 5% |
| Mean residues per sample | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| Samples above the EPA tolerance | 0.12% | 0.00% |
| Relative residue evidence index | 5/100 | 3/100 |
| Typical price | $1.49 / each | $2.29 / each |
Nutrition
Per 1/2 medium (68 g).
114
calories
1.3 g
protein
4.6 g
fiber
0.2 g
sugar
- Fiber 16% DV
- Monounsaturated fat 10 g
- Potassium 10% DV
How to wash avocados
Rinse the skin before halving. The only realistic transfer route is the knife passing through the peel.
Washing reduces surface residue and soil. It does not remove systemic compounds taken up into the plant, and no soap, vinegar, or commercial produce wash has been shown to beat 30 seconds of plain running water by a margin worth paying for. Full washing guide.
Buying and storing
- ◆Avocado fat helps you absorb the fat-soluble carotenoids in a salad — adding half an avocado to leafy greens measurably increases lutein and beta-carotene uptake.
- ◆Buy them hard and ripen on the counter. A rock-hard avocado takes three to five days; refrigerating stops the process at whatever stage it is in.
Common questions
›Should I buy organic avocados?
Probably not, if money is tight. Avocados indexes 5/100 on relative residue evidence against 3/100 for organic — a difference small enough that the same dollars buy far more on leafy greens or berries.
›Are avocados high in pesticides?
Avocados shows lower residue evidence — an index of 5/100 relative to other commodities. Across 837 conventional samples from 2023–2024, 13% contained at least one detected residue, averaging 0.1 distinct compounds per sample, and 0.12% exceeded the applicable EPA tolerance. A detection is not the same as an unsafe level.
›How much more does organic avocados cost?
About 54% more at typical U.S. retail — $1.49 per each conventional against $2.29 organic. For a household of 2 at normal purchase volume that is roughly $3.20 a week.
›How should I wash avocados?
Rinse the skin before halving. The only realistic transfer route is the knife passing through the peel.
Related foods
Blackberries
$3.49 / 6 oz container · organic $4.99
Strawberries
$4.29 / 1 lb container · organic $6.49
Blueberries
$3.99 / 11 oz container · organic $5.79
Kiwi
$0.79 / each · organic $1.19