For certain people, the extra cost of buying organic food is well worth it. However, that doesn't mean you should have to pay through the nose for it. Find out why organic costs so much more than other foods in the first place. Then adopt these three strategies to reduce the cost to your family.
1. Health: There are several reasons why buying organic food is worth the extra cost, even in tough economic times. If you’re pregnant, breastfeeding or have small children, it definitely pays to buy organic food. The pesticides in non-organic foods alter the function of the brain and nervous system in a way similar to lead. From the time we’re fetuses until age 12, our brains are rapidly developing and therefore susceptible to these harmful substances.
2. Responsibility: If you consider yourself a friend of the planet, you should know that it takes about forty times the amount of energy to get non-organic foods to your plate than locally grown organic foods. If you really want to put your money where your mouth is and support companies that are environmentally responsible, buy organic food even though the cost is higher.
3. Taste: Food loses its color, flavor and nutritional value when it’s shipped over one thousand miles to your local supermarket. If you don’t know the taste difference between organic and non-organic, you may not have ever had true fresh produce.
The cost of organic food is about 50% to 100% higher than non-organic. Before you start to panic and completely abandon the idea of buying organic, consider ways to reduce the cost so you can still reap the benefits. If you’re wondering how in the world it could cost so much more, consider this:
1. Low Initial Yield: When the switch to organic farming first takes place, the yields are lower. This is due to the changes in the soil and lasts about three years.
2. Labor Intensive: Instead of using chemicals to kill weeds, they have to actually be pulled up.
3. Popularity: The fewer people buy organic, the higher the cost. As more people start to buy organic food, it will be more widely available and less expensive.
Please continue on to the next page to learn tips on how to reduce the cost of organic food.