“Dirtiest Commodity on the Market”

Grapes came in as fourth most at risk for pesticide residues in the 2026 Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) Dirty Dozen list.¹ While grapes showed a range of pesticide residues, grapes in their dried form—raisins—were even more contaminated. The Dirty Dozen list focuses on fresh produce, so raisins are not included, but when the results from the USDA’s tests on raisins came in, the EWG couldn’t help but take notice. “Raisins are one of the dirtiest commodities on the market” Dr. Thomas Galligan, former EWG toxicologist writes.² If raisins were included in the Dirty Dozen list, they would take the top spot, with 99 percent of samples showing at least two pesticides. Samples were contaminated with an average of 13 pesticides.

Part of what makes raisins even more of a risk for contamination with pesticides compared to fresh grapes is the processing: conventional grapes are dried, then fumigated with toxic gases that can leave residues.³ Fumigants are banned in organic farming, making organic raisins (and grapes!) an easy choice.

Red, Red Wine, Stay Close to Meee⁴

A swirl of the stemmed glass, a deep breath, and a small sip. Ah, fruity with notes of oak and… PFAS?! Per-and-polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as ‘forever chemicals,’ are a toxic group of substances linked with serious health and environmental risks. Some of the health dangers include immune dysfunction, increased risk of various cancers, and reproductive and developmental harms.⁵ An EWG analysis found that 2.5 million pounds of pesticides sprayed on California farms are considered PFAS.⁶ Wine grapes are one of the most heavily PFAS-sprayed crops in the state. A seven-year study in France found that children living near vineyards (within 0.6 miles), had increased risk of lymphoblastic leukaemia where vineyards were denser.⁷, ⁸  Organic wine farms on the other hand, help keep PFAS out of our communities and out of our wine so the red, red wine can stay close at hand!

Resveratrol for All

They say, “A glass of wine a day keeps the doctor away.” That’s how the saying goes… right? While it may actually be apples keeping doctors away, there is something to the health- supporting nutrients in grapes—yes, wine included—and resveratrol is one of its standout compounds. Resveratrol is found in grape skins, berries, cocoa, and some nuts, and is well-known for its benefits to cardiovascular health, cognitive function, eye health, and skin health.⁹, ¹⁰ A handful of studies over the last six years have investigated the benefits of resveratrol for preventing and treating COVID-19 and its lingering impacts in long-COVID. So far, studies have found promising results for its ability to fight particular effects of the disease, including lung inflammation and cardiovascular risks, and even to prevent the COVID virus from replicating.¹¹, ¹² Resveratrol in organic grapes has been shown to be more bioavailable than that in conventional grapes.¹³

In any form, whether straight from the vine, or as jelly, juice, or wine, cheers to all the ways organic grapes support our health!

Try Our Balsamic Steak with Grape & Blue Cheese Relish

Steak is an easy choice for a quick weeknight meal and with a simple marinade and a fresh relish, it can be elevated to an entirely new level of flavor. Our Balsamic Steak with Grape Relish is rich, juicy, and full of depth. The marinade infuses the steak with bold savory notes, and once grilled to perfection, the steaks are topped with a sweet, savory, and tangy relish, resulting in a perfectly balanced dish that feels both effortless and elevated.

GET THE RECIPE

References

1. Environmental Working Group. (2026). The 2026 Dirty Dozen. EWG’s Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce. https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/dirty-dozen.php
2. Galligan, T. (2023, March 15). Raisins: No. 1 on the dirty dozen list? Environmental Working Group. https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/raisins.php
3. Fowles, J., Mitchell, J., & McGrath, H. (2001). Assessment of cancer risk from ethylene oxide residues in spices imported into New Zealand. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 39(11), 1055–1062. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0278-6915(01)00052-7
4. UB40. (1983). Red red wine [Song]. On Labor of Love. DEP International
5. How PFAS impacts your health. (2025, July 22). Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) and Your Health. https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/pfas/about/health-effects.html
6. Hayes, J., & Rabine, A. (2025, November 18). EWG: 2.5 million pounds of PFAS pesticides spread on California farmland annually. Environmental Working Group. https://www.ewg.org/research/ewg-25-million-pounds-toxic-pfas-pesticide…
7. Mancini, M., Hémon, D., De Crouy-Chanel, P., Guldner, L., Faure, L., Clavel, J., & Goujon, S. (2023). Association between Residential Proximity to Viticultural Areas and Childhood Acute Leukemia Risk in Mainland France: GEOCAP Case-Control Study, 2006–2013. Environmental Health Perspectives, 131(10), 107008. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp12634
8. Rfi. (2023, October 19). French children living near large vineyards at higher risk of leukaemia: study. RFI. https://www.rfi.fr/en/france/20231018-french-children-living-near-large…
9. Kuršvietienė, L., Stanevičienė, I., Mongirdienė, A., & Bernatonienė, J. (2016). Multiplicity of effects and health benefits of resveratrol. Medicina, 52(3), 148–155. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.medici.2016.03.003
10. Singh, C. K., Liu, X., & Ahmad, N. (2015). Resveratrol, in its natural combination in whole grape, for health promotion and disease management. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1348(1), 150–160. https://doi.org/10.1111/nyas.12798
11. Russo, C., Valle, M. S., Malaguarnera, L., Romano, I. R., & Malaguarnera, L. (2023). Comparison of vitamin D and resveratrol performances in COVID-19. Nutrients, 15(11), 2639. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15112639
12. Bastin, A., Netticadan, T., Abbasi, F., Rahimi, N., Mahmoodi, M., Alizadeh, M., Movahed, A., & Momeni-Moghaddam, M. A. (2025). Effects of resveratrol on inflammatory cytokines in COVID-19 patients: a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, 480(8), 4865–4872. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11010-025-05290-3
13. Macías-Gallardo, F., Quiñones-Muñoz, T. A., Larrea, V., Hernando, I., & Ozuna, C. (2025). Does organic viticulture enhance polyphenol bioaccessibility in syrah grapes and wines? an in vitro and microstructural approach. Food Chemistry Advances, 10, 101202. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.focha.2025.101202