While the weather in Southern California might not reflect the beginning of fall, we are certainly there. With fall comes the ...

For this informal test we selected organic and non-organic equivalents of carrots, apples and tomatoes from a single supplier, and matched them in terms of agricultural variety and appearance.

This is because some produce, like apples, soak the chemicals inside, making it impossible to wash off. Some opt for the organic ingredients but produce grown organically can still have pesticides.

which means supermarket produce sections are ripe with the finest late-season fruits and vegetables — like apples, leafy greens and winter squash — and often pricier organic versions of each.