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Organic foods may be healthier for you, but they can have a sickening effect on your budget. Produced without pesticides or other chemicals, organic produce, meat and dairy products can cost 50% to 100% more than their conventional counterparts, says Urvashi Rangan, a senior scientist and policy analyst with Consumer Reports' Greener Choices.
Despite those markups, studies touting the health and environmental benefits of organic foods have made them more popular than ever. More than 70% of consumers have at least one organic product on their shopping lists, according to Hartman, a market-research firm. Here are five tips for going organic for less: Set some priorities You'll get the most bang for your buck by buying organic apples, beef and spinach (see the chart below). That's because the conventional counterparts to these foods are laden with pesticides and potentially harmful additives. Produce such as papayas, bananas and broccoli require fewer pesticides to grow, thereby retaining little to no residue after washing. The peels on bananas and other tropical fruits further reduce your exposure. Also, read the labels. Seafood, cosmetics and cleaning products can be labeled "organic" without having to face the same requirements that the U.S. Department of Agriculture imposes on vegetables and meat. "There is no system, no real oversight," warns Kimberly Stewart, the author of "Eating Between the Lines: The Supermarket Shopper's Guide to the Truth Behind Food Labels." You'll pay premium prices with no guarantees. Should you buy organic?| Category | Worth it | Not worth it |
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Fruits | Apples, cherries, grapes, pears, berries, peaches, nectarines, plums | Bananas, kiwis, mangoes, papayas, pineapples, oranges | Vegetables | Celery, potatoes, spinach, bell peppers, lettuce, tomatoes, green beans | Asparagus, avocados, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, sweet corn, onions, sweet peas | Meat / dairy | Beef, pork, poultry, eggs, dairy products | Seafood | Other | Baby food | Processed foods (chips, pasta, etc.), cleaning products, cosmetics | Sources: "Eating Between the Lines," Environmental Working Group and Consumer Reports Consider your alternatives Prices on organic meats, eggs and dairy products can be some of the most exorbitant. The culprit: a lack of the organic feed for the animals, Stewart says. So if you can't stomach prices for organics, consider antibiotic- or hormone-free meat. Though the animals may have eaten regular feed, they meet the other half of organic requirements. Organic goes on sale, too Conventional discount shopping wisdom also applies to organic goods. Grocery stores frequently put organic foods on sale, so keep an eye out for coupons or discounts advertised in their circulars. Also, buy fruits and veggies that are in season. Pricing becomes much more competitive during those times, and organic produce isn't that much more expensive then. Turn to local farmers Your local farmers market can be a great place to buy organic food. That's because a combination of seasonality and competition helps keep down prices, Green Choices' Rangan says. Another option: community-supported agriculture programs. For a fee, you'll be supplied with fresh, organic produce on a weekly basis throughout the growing season. Quiet Creek Farm in Kutztown, Pa., for example, charges roughly $23 a week for enough produce to feed three or four people. Depending on the week, you might get broccoli, peppers, zucchini, melons, strawberries, herbs or any of the other 40-plus organic items the farm produces. Article by msn |
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