Strawberries have officially replaced apples as the most pesticide - ridden produce , according to 2016 Environmental Working Group 's Shopper 's Guide ; around 98 % of all " conventional " strawberry samples surveyed had detectable pesticide residues with 40 % having residues of ten or more pesticides present . Some of the chemicals detected on the fruit are linked to cancer , reproductive and developmental damage , hormone disruption and neurological problems , says the report . China , the Philippines , Mexico , Turkey and Brazil are leading producing countries of strawberries in that order ; strawberries are the fourth highest producing US fruit in terms of value of value , following grapes , oranges and apples . Avocado 's remain at the top of America 's cleanest produce , with less than 1 % of samples showing detectable pesticides .
Strawberries have officially replaced apples as the most pesticide-ridden produce, according to 2016 Environmental Working Group's Shopper's Guide; around 98% of all "conventional" strawberry samples tested had detectable pesticide residues with 40% having residues of ten or more pesticides present. Some of the chemicals detected on the fruit are linked to cancer, reproductive and developmental damage, hormone disruption and neurological problems, says the report. China, the US, Mexico, Turkey and Spain are leading producing countries of strawberries in that order; strawberries are the fourth highest ranked US fruit in terms of value of production, following grapes, oranges and apples. Avocado's remain at the top of EWG's cleanest produce, with less than 1% of samples showing detectable pesticides.