There is no question that organic food can be much more expensive than the commercial varieties. Mark-ups can range from just a few pennies to more than 200% per item. The difference is in the cost of production. Commercial farms cut costs using lower quality materials in many cases and are often subsidized by the government. Organic farms are smaller operations and the costs of producing the food is higher as they must follow very stringent guidelines to be certified as organic. In many cases, premium prices are charged as well as demand for organic food often outstrips the production.
For many, the extra money spend on buying organic food is considered worthwhile, but everyone likes to see their grocery dollars stretch a bit further, especially if you are just making the transition to organic foods or have seen the prices of organic foods rise recently in your area as they have in many others.
Buy Just What You Need
The closer you can get to the exact number of food items you need, the less you'll spend on waste. For example, if you typically wind up with dried up fruits and vegetables in the refrigerator every week, take note of this and adjust your buying habits so that you have only as much as you need and not paying premium prices for food that is going to waste.
Shop Around
The deluxe specialty organic store might have the greatest variety of foods available, but it might also have the highest prices. Discount superstores have begun carrying organic foods as well as many neighborhood grocers. Visit a few stores as opportunities present themselves to see how prices compare across the board and how much organic food you can find in each that you need each week. If prices are low in one store, but you have to go to two stores just to get everything you need, you might find it's not worth the extra work. On the contrary, it might help you to buy more fresh produce if you're in a market more than once a week.
Try Local Growers
Farmers markets and local growers often don't charge a premium for their produce. You can research which local growers are in your area by visiting www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets and www.localharvest.org.
Buy Online
Use the internet and traditional networks to order directly from the manufacturer. In the case of meats and some produce, you can have the items delivered straight to your door depending on where you live and how the manufacturer ships or delivers the items. You might be able to find producers who ship their produce using www.eatwellguide.org and www.theorganicpages.com.
Join a Farm
If you join a local community of growers or a farm coop, you'll be ensured of a weekly batch of organic produce from the spring through the fall. The cost ranges from $300 to $500 for the entire season and you might be required to visit the land and help with the actual growing or harvesting process. The roughly $10 a week for produce is less than farmer's markets and is almost always less than the non-organic varieties of produce at the supermarket thus making the community-supported farm a source to save money.
