Buying Organic Food -
Affordable Organic Food Cost
Buying Organic Food - You Can Afford It
Buying organic food can be affordable. I know many of us would like to 'go organic' but are put off by the idea that it is too expensive. Before I started to buy organic food, I thought the same. And likely, at one time, organic food cost was higher. But it's important to understand how to buy organic food; to make it affordable.
We want to feed our children and ourselves with food that is healthier than conventionally produced and pesticide-laden food. We are also growing more concerned about our environment and the welfare of animals; and the impact intensive farming and the use of pesticides on our planet.
However, organic food has been branded as being too expensive.
Let me present you with some ideas and facts. They might help you to realise it's possible to buy organic food without breaking the budget.
Buying Organic - Ways of Looking at It
The bigger picture shows that we actually pay more for non-organic food than we do for organic. Organic food is produced in a different way to conventionally, intensively farmed produce.
- Organic farmers use crop-rotation and good husbandry (that is ensuring the soil has the right nutrients in the right balance, without using agri-chemicals)
- They also look after the welfare of their animals and feed them organic produce
- Thirdly, they conserve the natural environment and do not disturb local eco-systems. The wildlife is left alone to thrive
This organic way of doing things produces healthier food, healthier animals and a healthier environment. Yes, it costs more to produce this way than the conventional way.
But do we pay less for non-organic food? The answer is an emphatic 'no'. We pay more than once for our mass-produced non-organic food.
- Firstly, we pay at the shop counter
- Secondly, we pay for agricultural subsidies (funding given to conventional producers) through our taxes
- Then, we pay a third time for the horrors produced in the environment by intensive farming (e.g; Mad Cow's Disease or BSE), again through our taxes
In reality, we pay less in the mid to long-term for organic food.
The short-term view is of course the immediate reality. We can only budget with the money that we actually have in our purse or wallet. But if we plan our organic purchases well, we can ensure that they are more affordable.
- Buy organic fruits, vegetables, meats and more that are in-season and locally grown. If you want tomatoes, carrots, greens and more in the middle of winter, try to find local organic produce that is canned or stored or frozen. The further it has to travel, the more expensive it is likely to be.
- While we are on the subject of travel, try to buy using the 100 mile rule: buy products that have been grown and/or produced within a 100 mile radius. You will be able to buy fresher, the food will travel shorter distances, and it will likely last longer. You will also be able to buy smaller amounts if locally produced (either at the shops or through online delivery).
- Consider buying bulk and splitting the order with close family or friends. For example, at the beginning of winter I buy 50 lbs each of organic carrots, potatoes, beets and onions. My sister and I split the bags or boxes of vegetables and store them in our basements (in a cool and dry place) - my husband actually puts sand in the containers to keep them dry and fresh. This is a cost effective way to buy organic food.
Let's look at other ways of 'going organic': ways of buying organic food will show you how to afford organic food for you and your family.
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