Although organic foods are gaining popularity among health-conscious customers, they can be pricey. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 2016 Certified Organic Survey, just five million acres of farmland in the United States were certified organically. Sales of certified organic foods grew 23% from 2015 to 2016, the USDA reports, despite less than 1% of U.S. farmland being certified organic.
Greg Wank, a partner at advisory company Anchin, Block & Anchin LLP, who heads its food and beverage practice division, says demand is simply one factor in the rise in organic product prices. Producing items without conventional pesticides is more expensive for farmers, and harvesting and managing organic food can be more time-consuming, both of which increase the cost. As a result of a growing supply due to increased demand, “costs are gradually decreasing,” Wank explains.
In spite of this, there are a number of straightforward strategies for lowering the price of organic food.
Here are some tips to buy Organic Foods on a Budget:
- Take your time when reading labels.
- Prioritize the foods you eat.
- Make use of seasonal vegetables while you can.
- Frozen food is a better option than fresh.
- Buy organic products under the store’s own label.
- Shop at discount retailers.
- See if you can find any coupons for organic products.
- Purchase things on sale.
- You’ll save money this way.
- Proper storage can extend the shelf life of a product.
Keep an Eye on Those Labels!
The use of marketing buzzwords like “natural” does not mean that a product is free of genetic engineering or synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, as some manufacturers claim. Instead, you should check for the USDA Organic label to make sensible purchases. Publix Super Markets Inc.’s director of media and community relations Maria Brous adds, “We aim to make it easy for our customers.” On their shelf tags, the chain employs multiple health icons to identify which goods are USDA Organic, created with at least 70% organic ingredients, including natural ingredients, or maybe a better choice for people wanting less added sugar, fat, or more nutrients.
Priority Foods should be the focus of your diet
Some families may not be able to afford to eat entirely organic food. Josh Elledge, the founder of the money-saving website SavingsAngel.com, advises families to select products that reduce pesticide exposure. There are some things, for example, that have skins that need to be removed,” he explains. Many other foods, such as mushrooms and asparagus, can be cultivated without the use of pesticides. Elledge recommends using the Environmental Working Group’s “Dirty Dozen” and “Clean Fifteen” lists to prioritize which organic items to buy.
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Invest in Seasonal Goods
Buying organic vegetables solely when it is in season will help you save money. Out-of-season produce is more expensive and less ecologically friendly because it needs to travel further to reach the customer, according to Stony Brook Medicine clinical assistant professor Sotiria Everett in the nutrition section of the department of family, population, and preventive medicine.
Use Frozen instead of Fresh Produce
You don’t need to buy fresh food in order to eat organically. Another way to save money is to buy frozen organic fruits and veggies, which Everett recommends. According to a 2015 investigation from the University of California—Davis, fresh and frozen foods are nutritionally equivalent.
Buy Organic Products from the Store’s Own Brand.
Private label organic products are now widely available at many retail outlets. The O Organics brand is available in Albertsons Companies’ supermarket brands, such as Vons, Safeway, and Shaw’s. GreenWise is available at Publix. Oftentimes, these products are less expensive than their brand-name counterparts.
Purchase Items on Sale
Buying what’s on sale is an easy method to save money on organic food. Brous recommends “shopping the flyer” as a smart place to start. In-store and online sales flyers frequently feature discounted products. GreenWise Market, a subsidiary of Publix that carries a selection of organic and natural products, has its own weekly circular. Every week, a wide range of other supermarkets offer organic foods on a budget.
Use Organic Coupons to Save Money
In addition to standard and discounted organic foods, paper, and digital coupons can help you save even more money on these items. More coupons for organic product lines than ever before, according to Elledge. In addition to newspaper inserts, grocery store circulars, coupons.com, and shop loyalty apps like the Meijer mPerks app, you can also discover coupons on websites like Coupons.com. Customers of organic brands may receive coupons from these companies from time to time, so it’s a good idea to join their mailing lists.
You may extend the life of your organic food by using the correct storage methods once you’ve purchased it.
“There are so many things you can do now to improve the shelf life of vegetables,” Brous explains. Separate and individual storage of fruits and vegetables is recommended. It’s preferable to keep onions cool and wrapped in paper, while corn should be refrigerated until cooked and then wrapped. Bananas, for example, can be slowed down in their ripening by using special green bags.
