10 Money Saving Tips When Buying Organic

1. Be choosy
Here’s an idea that’s worth passing along: the 80/20 rule can also apply to going organic. How? We understand that it’s simply not always possible to buy 100% organic for yourself and your family 100% of the time. Why not try buying 80% of your groceries organic and choose the other 20% wisely.  Or, try buying foods that you use 80% of the time organic versus foods you only use 20% of the time. For example, if you have children and they drink milk for breakfast, lunch and dinner and orange juice for breakfast only occasionally, buy organic milk, but let them drink conventional orange juice.

We have a great resource to help you navigate the produce stand when choosing between organic versus conventional produce. Click here for our pocket guide.

2. Buy in season
We know you hear this frequently, but that’s because it is true. For example, when strawberries are at their peak, find an organic “pick your own” farm or load up from the grocery store and freeze extras for those long months when strawberries aren’t in season.

3. Shop around
Believe it or not, you can find some incredible deals on organic foods in mainstream mass market grocery stores. Next time you are walking the aisles, make a note to cross-check the price of organic versus conventional and you might be surprised to find little to zero difference depending on the store you shop.

4. Start your own garden
This can be tricky if you don’t have much land, but even just growing herbs on a sunny windowsill is a start. We  noticed a proliferation of gardening for beginner kits and websites that launched when the economy went south and here’s a great beginners resource from our friends at Organic Gardening: www.organicgardening.com/learn-and-grow/kitchen-gardens.

5. Farmers markets
The growth of farmers’ markets has exploded in the past decade. In fact, according to USDA in from 2009-2010 farmers’ markets grew 16%! A terrific resource to find a local market is Local Harvest: www.localharvest.org.

Bonus tip: One of our favorite ways to save money at your local market is to ask if there are any fresh “seconds” that you could buy. “Seconds” are usually fruits or produce that might be perfectly fine, but might not be perfect or blemish-free. Frequently you can save up to 50% if your vendor offers to let you buy their “seconds.”

6. Buy generic
A number of the large chains, including specialty gourmet and health food chains, have their own private label line of organic products. Before reaching for that can of conventional tomatoes or box of crackers, just quickly peruse the organic selection. You might be surprised to find the organic store brand version to be cheaper.

7. Buy from the bulk bins
Herbs — this is clearly an easy way to save up to 90% when you need a pinch of nutmeg or allspice and you don’t want an entire jar. Plus, it’s always good to buy small quantities of herbs and spices so to keep them fresh and flavorful.

Beans, grains, snacks and other bulk bin items – another great way to save and buy only what you need. Do a price comparison and see the difference. Plus, just think of how you are saving a landfill from more packaging!

8. Coupons, coupons, coupons!
Although you might not see many coupons for organic foods in your Sunday circular, if you take the time to visit your favorite organic company online, chances are you’ll find great coupons to download.

9. Join a CSA
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)  is one of the most economical ways to buy organic produce. How does it work? Typically you pay up front for a season of produce. Shares, as they are called, typically start at around $300 for a two people or a young family for 24-28 weeks of produce. Not bad if you break down the cost on a weekly basis. Another advantage of a CSA is the relationships you forge with growers; you and your family will get to know the farmers and their farming practices! And, if you are so inspired,  they often allow share-holders to volunteer on the farm to reduce the price of their share. Local Harvest is also a terrific source to find CSAs in your area.

10. Cook!
Without a doubt, the best way to save money on food is to cook it yourself. Steer clear of prepared foods, frozen foods and eating out. If you are strapped for time, check out the extensive selection of new slow cooker cookbooks out in the past two years;  they definitely aren’t your mom’s one-pot wonder recipes from the 1970s.

Vote with your dollar

Remember that every dollar you spend is a vote to keep organic in our stores. The more people who buy organic, the more available it will become, which could ultimately drive down the price. Remember this–the big mass market stores are not buying organic out of the goodness of their hearts, they are offering it because of basic capitalistic principles of supply and demand. If they see a demand, they’ll supply it. If they see a huge demand, they’ll be sure to make the price competitive. Yet one more reason to buy organic.