By Lynne Adkins

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – If you want to eat healthier in the new year you may want to buy certain fruits and veggies in the organic section.

The so-called dirty dozen have been identified by an environmental group as the fruits and vegetables containing the most pesticide residue, even after washing, according to Danielle Schopf, a registered dietician at the Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Philadelphia.

“If you’re trying to reduce things like antibiotics or fertilizers with synthetic ingredients, then you may want to head organics for some, at least for the dirty dozen.”

The list includes things like apples, celery, strawberries, peaches, spinach, imported nectarines, grapes, sweet bell peppers, potatoes, kale or collard greens, lettuce and domestic blueberries — produce with skin that is consumed when the item is eaten. She says if organics are too costly, you can cut the skin off to reduce some of the residue.

Schopf admits going organic is a more expensive way to shop.

“If we’re going to not purchase this specific fruit or vegetable just because it’s on the dirty dozen list and it’s too expensive for us to buy organic, than really it’s better for us to clean them off and take the skin off sometimes.”