<p>The “Vegetable Basket” program plays a critical role in securing China’s urban food supply within a highly regulated agricultural framework; however, the occurrence patterns and associated risks of pesticide residues in such systems remain insufficiently characterized. In this study, neonicotinoids (NEOs), carbamates, and pyrethroids (PYRs) were systematically investigated in soils and crops collected from representative “Vegetable Basket” production bases in Guangzhou, South China. Pesticide residues were ubiquitous across both matrices, with PYRs dominating overall contamination, while carbamates occurred at consistently low levels, likely reflecting recent regulatory restrictions. Distinct distribution patterns were observed across crop types: systemic NEOs preferentially accumulated in fruiting vegetables, whereas lipophilic PYRs were enriched on fruit surfaces. Ecological and dietary risk assessments identified bifenthrin as the primary risk driver, posing high ecological risks in soils and relatively elevated yet acceptable acute dietary risks (HQ_a &lt; 1) in specific crops, including balsam pear and greenhouse-grown grapes. Multivariate analysis further revealed significant co-occurrence between pesticide residues and heavy metals, highlighting the complexity of co-contamination in intensively managed agricultural soils. These findings underscore the need for risk-oriented pesticide management strategies that prioritize high-risk compounds and promote integrated management of agrochemical inputs in regulated production systems. <b>Clinical trial number</b>: Not applicable.</p>