The Dirty Dozen and The Clean 15

I am presently a huge proponent of consuming a 100% organic, plant based diet. Especially after learning about the dangers of the pesticides, fungicides and herbicides that are used to grow all conventional produce both domestically and abroad. Here are the Dirty Dozen and Clean 15.  Note ... I will still buy the clean 15 organically grown whenever available, but I will NOT buy the dirty dozen conventionally when organic is unavailable ...

I found this article on the dangers of pesticides on the Organic Food Corner that I found interesting, so I pass it along.

The Dirty Dozen :

 

1. apples
2. celery
3. strawberries
4. peaches
5. spinach
6. nectarines, imported
7. grapes, imported
8. sweet bell peppers
9. potatoes
10. blueberries, domestic
11. lettuce
12. kale collard greens 

Clean 15: Okay to Buy Non-Organic 
(If there is no option for organic)

1. onions

2. sweet corn
3. pineapples
4. avocado
5. asparagus
6. sweet peas
7. mangoes
8. eggplant
9. cantaloupe, domestic
10. kiwi
11. cabbage
12. watermelon
13. sweet potatoes
14. grapefruit
15. mushrooms

The biggest issue I run into are the organic sweet bell peppers ... I have to say, they are a big part of my diet as I cannot consume tomatoes so I substitute red peppers in all my recipes.  Perhaps it is a seasonal thing but they have been out of them at most of the usual places I look ... additionally, they are very pricey.  They run about $2.99 a pepper.  I attempted to grow my own (epic fail) but the birds liked them so much that as soon as they were close to ripening, they pecked them apart. This would often happen overnight and I would awaken to pick my peppers which were pecked.  Any suggestions for me?