It’s a common thought that organic food is always pricier than regular food and that you have to pay a premium for healthier choices. But that isn’t always the case. EDB suggests six steps to save money while buying organics.
Farmers Markets – One of the best places to find inexpensive organics is at your local farmers market. But when you’re there, you need to ask questions. According to Lucy Lazarony at Bankrate.com, that’s the best way to find a good deal.
“Ask about seconds -- perfectly tasty but misshapen produce that you may be able to buy at a discount. Ask about discounts for buying in bulk. Ask how you can buy their produce when the market is closed.”
Not only can you save money, but you have a chance to meet and interact with the people who are producing your food. While some are open only from spring to fall, it’s a good bet you’ll find a deal if you stop by and take a look.
Community Supported Agriculture – An easy way to save money while buying organic is through a CSA program. Fees can run around $300 to $400 per year depending on how much you buy, but each week during the growing season, a farmer will send a box or two of produce to your home.
You might not even need to pay in cash, as some farmers let you exchange some time working in the field for some bags of fresh vegetables. You also won’t be restricted to fruits and vegetables. According to the local foods Web site Local Harvest, some farmers are offering customers shares of meat, cheese and bread their farms produce.
Food Cooperatives – Food cooperatives can come in a variety of different forms. Some greatly resemble regular stores, while others are more akin to buying clubs. They are usually owned by their members and workers, and are able to provide them with discounts on various goods; many carry a wide range of organic products.
According to the Web site Suite101, the ways you’ll save money can differ among co-ops: One might offer an upfront discount, while another will send a rebate check at the end of the year, depending on how much produce you bought. Co-op memberships can be as easy as paying membership dues and going shopping, or as complex as volunteering time at the store, which might bring you bigger savings.
Buying in bulk – Storage can be difficult, but bulk buying is a great way to save money on organic food. Sometimes, as with rice and lentils, all you’ll need is a cool, dry place to store your food which, according to Bankrate.com, can last for months under the right conditions.
Seasonal Food – It might be hard to give up year-round access to foods like tomatoes, but one of the best ways to save money while buying organic is to restrict yourself to seasonal foods. According to Katherine DiMatteo of the Organic Trade Association, the longer you can wait into the growing season, the more money you will save.
“As the season progresses there’s more produce and the price has a tendency to shift downward, sometimes dramatically,” DiMatteo said to Bankrate.com. “That’s the best time to buy.”
Growing your own food – Not everyone has the time or space, but growing your own food is a great way reduce the amount of money you spend and allows direct control of what is used in production. According to Bankrate.com, it’s best to start slowly. Foods like carrots, radishes and beats are often the easiest to grow, especially for someone on a time crunch.
Even dense urban living doesn’t close the door completely to home grown food, as many cities have set land aside for residents to develop neighborhood gardens. If that isn’t an option, try using a window box garden and watch your plants grow from inside your home.
Sources:
Bankrate.com. “17 tips for buying organic food on the cheap,” http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/cheap/20040901a1.asp#1; accessed 19 Oct. 2009
Stretcher.com. “Organic foods: Cheap sources?” http://www.stretcher.com/stories/980402a.cfm; accessed 19 Oct. 2009
Thedollarstretcher.com. “10 ways to buy organic foods on the cheap,” http://www.stretcher.com/stories/07/07jul30f.cfm; accessed 19 Oct. 2009
Spark People. “Buying organic food on a budget,” http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=740; accessed 19 Oct. 2009
Organic Consumers Association. “Green Businesses,” http://organicconsumers.org/state/greenbiz.cfm?all=BreadCompany; accessed 19 Oct. 2009
Local Harvest. “Main page,” http://www.localharvest.org/; accessed 19 Oct. 2009
Wellsphere.com. “How to buy organic food on a budget,” http://www.wellsphere.com/skin-health-article/how-to-buy-organic-food-on-a-budget/622982; 10 March 2009
New York Times. “Food storage as Grandma knew it,” http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/06/garden/06root.html; 5 Nov. 2008
Suite101.com. “Cheap (organic!) eats: Healthy groceries on a budget,” http://greenliving.suite101.com/article.cfm/cheap_organic_eats; 16 Sept. 2007
Capital Times. “Naturally frugal: Buying organic without busting your budget,” http://www.organicconsumers.org/organic/natfrugal012306.cfm; 21 Jan. 2006
