How to Eat Organic and Still Have Some Spending Money

It has been established that eating organic food has definite health benefits. What gives many people pause is the cost. The perception is that organic food is more expensive, and it can be. However, as more consumers demand cleaner food, more producers will respond and prices will eventually drop. In the meantime, what steps can you take to make organic food affordable?  You CAN shop organic and have extra money, if you follow some simple guidelines.

Shop Locally

Shopping locally can help to ensure that you know the producer AND can save you money due to the decreased cost of getting food to the store and consumer.  Try to buy food directly straight from the local farmer who grows it. For more information about “going local”, visit www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets or www.localharvest.org).

Consider buying a share in a community supported organic farm. The cost for a family of four, for a season, averages $300-$500 or about $10 per week for the produce supplied. For more information, visit www.sare.org for a list of organic farms.

Choose Wisely at the Store

• Comparison shop and seek out a store’s private label. For example, Whole Foods has the “365 Organic Everyday Value” line.
• Stick to foods in natural form. Prepared and packaged foods have the highest markups.

•  Prioritize which organic produce it’s most important to purchase.  Remember the dirty dozen – the 12 most contaminated fruits and vegetables which expose a person on average to about 20 pesticides a day. They include apples, bell peppers, celery, cherries, imported grapes, nectarines, peaches, pears, potatoes, red raspberries, spinach and strawberries.

• Eat lower on the food chain. Make a little meat go a long way by preparing it in soups and stews. Think of meat as a condiment filling up a quarter of the plate and fill the rest with legumes, grains, fruits and vegetables.
• Order by mail: purchase organic beef from www.slankersgrassfedmeats.com or  www.eatwellguide.org  or  www.eatwild.com  and www.theorganicpages.com

Visit These Web Site for More Information

www.kcfoodcircle.org

www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets

www.localharvest.org

www.sare.org

www.eatwellguide.org

www.eatwild.com

www.slankersgrassfedmeats.com