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So what exactly makes a product organic? In order to be USDA certified organic a food product must meet the fallowing criteria among several other regulations and standards.
- No chemical pesticides used
- No animal products exposed to antibiotics
- No use of genetically engineered grains
- No use of irradiation to sterilize foods (exposing food to low levels of radiation in order to kill microorganisms)
Needless to say it can be a real challenge for growers to meet all of these regulations. Weed control alone for an organic field is a whopping $1,000 compared to only $50 for a conventional field of the same size. The extra cost of creating an organic food is almost always passed directly to the consumer. That is, "organic products typically cost 10 to 40% more than similar conventionally produced products." (1) The cost difference in some cases is as small as about 20 cents per lb for some produce like organic bananas, however, other foods such as blueberries or carrots can be nearly twice as expensive for the organic variety(2). In local supermarkets organic milk can cost 4 dollars more than the regular kind. Depending on what foods you are purchasing in organic varieties you may find your budget filled up long before your shopping cart.
Regardless of the wide range of price differences for organics, adding extra expenses to your grocery shopping for the same amount of food is still a difficult task to manage. If your not able to go completely organic right off the bat but are interested in testing out or supporting the organic market, try starting with some of the less expensive organic produce to keep the difference lower at first. Another approach to is to purchase a few different organic products in place of the conventional ones each time you go shopping. This can help you get a better idea of what foods you feel are worth spending a little extra on for the organic version.
For those looking to support a healthier environment and a more stable food system in our country organics is truly a noble investment. Still, while some feel that organic foods are way more nutritious than conditionally produced ones, that may not always be the case. Several studies on the nutritional variance between organic and conventional foods have amounted to inconclusive results, some of which show a slightly higher concentration of certain vitamins and minerals in organics and others which draw no outstanding differences between the two varieties. (3) It is therefore important to remember that just because a food is labeled "organic" does not necessarily make it a healthy choice. Not all organic foods come from small farms and a few simple ingredients anymore. Rather, the modern organic market is supplied in part by "large food producers" and partially comprised of "processed foods" which are certainly not the building blocks of a nutritious diet. (3)
That being said, organics certainly have the potential to enhance the flavor of a vary healthy diet, especially those including plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Not to mention that switching to organic products also helps support a market that may someday improve the condition and quality of our country's food production. So go try organics and see what you think!
Have you gone organic or tried any organic products? Do you think it's worth the higher price? What are some of your favorite organic foods?
Sources:
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_food
- http://www.rodaleinstitute.org/Organic-Price-Report
- http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1750-3841.2006.00196.x/full (Carl Winter & Sarah Davis for The Journal of Food Science)
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