Produce
Peaches
Peaches combine a soft, fuzzy, edible skin with heavy in-season spray schedules, which puts them near the top of the residue table. The organic premium is modest in peak summer and steep the rest of the year.
Organic upgrade priority
Consider organic
Score 27/100 · about $3.00 a week extra for a household of two
- →Conventional samples index 71/100 against 24/100 for organic — a 47-point difference.
- →At about 3 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
- 71/100
- Higher residue evidence
- Nutrient density
- 71/100
- Per calorie, across the whole database
- Typical price
- $2.69
- per lb · organic +56%
- Servings a week
- 3
- Per person, at typical purchase volume
- Samples
- 1,260
- Conventional, 2015–2022 · 38 organic
- Data confidence
- Limited
- Set from sample size and year coverage
Organic vs conventional peaches
| Measure | Conventional | Organic |
|---|---|---|
| Samples analysed | 1,260 | 38 |
| Program years | 2015–2022 | 2015–2022 |
| Samples with any residue | 99% | 63% |
| Mean residues per sample | 4.8 | 1.0 |
| Samples above the EPA tolerance | 0.32% | 0.00% |
| Relative residue evidence index | 71/100 | 24/100 |
| Typical price | $2.69 / lb | $4.19 / lb |
Nutrition
Per 1 medium (150 g).
59
calories
1.4 g
protein
2.3 g
fiber
13 g
sugar
- Vitamin C 17% DV
- Vitamin A 10% DV
- Potassium 8% DV
How to wash peaches
The fuzz holds more surface residue than smooth skin does. Rub firmly under running water, or blanch and slip the skins if you are cooking them anyway.
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
- ◆Peaches soften off the tree but do not gain sugar. Buy fragrant fruit with no green at the stem and let it ripen on the counter, not in the fridge.
- ◆Out of season, frozen peach slices beat hard imported fresh fruit on both flavour and price.
Common questions
›Should I buy organic peaches?
It is a reasonable upgrade when the budget allows, but not the first one to make. Peaches scores 27/100 on organic upgrade priority, with conventional samples at 71/100 against 24/100 organic. At about $3.00 extra a week, it competes with several higher-priority items.
›Are peaches high in pesticides?
Peaches shows higher residue evidence — an index of 71/100 relative to other commodities. Across 1,260 conventional samples from 2015–2022, 99% contained at least one detected residue, averaging 4.8 distinct compounds per sample, and 0.32% exceeded the applicable EPA tolerance. A detection is not the same as an unsafe level.
›How much more does organic peaches cost?
About 56% more at typical U.S. retail — $2.69 per lb conventional against $4.19 organic. For a household of 2 at normal purchase volume that is roughly $3.00 a week.
›How should I wash peaches?
The fuzz holds more surface residue than smooth skin does. Rub firmly under running water, or blanch and slip the skins if you are cooking them anyway.
›What can I buy instead of peaches?
If the organic version is out of budget or the fresh price has spiked, Mangoes, Papaya, Watermelon cover similar ground on this list. Each one is either lower on residue evidence, cheaper per serving, or both.
Related foods
Papaya
$4.49 / each
Nutrition 80/100 · 0.7 g protein · 2.5 g fiber
Not applicableMangoes
$1.69 / each · organic $2.69
Watermelon
$6.49 / whole melon · organic $8.99
Blackberries
$3.49 / 6 oz container · organic $4.99