Manufacturers use a variety of marketing terms to encourage sales, but words like "natural" are no guarantee that something is free of genetic engineering or synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Instead, look for the USDA Organic label to make smart spending decisions. "We try to make it easy for our customers," says Maria Brous, director of media and community relations for Publix Super Markets Inc.
Buying only organic food may not be financially possible for some households. In that case, families should prioritize purchases to minimize pesticide exposure, says Josh Elledge, founder of money-saving website SavingsAngel.com. "Some products have skins, for example, that you remove anyway," he says. Others, like mushrooms and asparagus, may be conventionally grown with methods resulting in little to no pesticide residue.
Keep your costs down by buying organic produce only when it is in season. "Produce that is out of season will be more expensive, and it wouldn't be as environmentally friendly since it has to travel farther to get to the consumer," says Sotiria Everett, clinical assistant professor in the Department of Family, Population and Preventive Medicine's Nutrition division at Stony Brook Medicine.
You don't have to buy fresh food to eat organic. "Another more budget-friendly strategy is to seek out frozen organic fruits and vegetables that tend to be priced favorably," Everett says. Studies, such as a 2015 report from researchers at the University of California—Davis, have found the nutritional value of fresh and frozen foods to be similar.
Many stores now carry their own private label organic products. For instance, Publix sells GreenWise products, while Albertsons Companies offers the O Organics brand in its supermarket chains, which includes Vons, Safeway and Shaw's. In many cases, these products may be lower-priced than comparable brand-name goods.
Shopping at the right store is another way to save money when buying organics. The budget grocery chain Aldi has become a favorite spot for shoppers to buy organic products at a discount, and Trader Joe's is also known for its affordable prices. Those who don't mind buying in bulk can find the good prices on organic foods at the warehouse club Costco, though you'll need to pay a $60 annual membership fee to shop there.
One of the easiest ways to save on organic food is to focus on purchasing what's on sale. "Shopping the flyer is always a good starting point," Brous says. Sales flyers may be found in stores or online and often list products featuring discounts. Publix usually has at least two organic items on sale each week, and the company also operates GreenWise Market that has its own circular featuring an assortment of organic and natural product sales.
Paper and digital coupons can offer additional savings on both regular and discounted organic foods. "There are more coupons for organic product lines than ever before," Elledge says. You can find coupons in newspaper inserts, grocery store circulars, websites like Coupons.com and store loyalty apps, such as the Meijer mPerks app.
Many communities offer farmers markets or community supported agriculture programs, known as CSAs. Both give consumers the chance to buy direct from growers. "While selecting organic food is one way to lessen exposure to pesticides … food that is grown locally and sustainably … can be better for (customers) and the environment," Everett says.
Once you have purchased your organic food, make it last with proper storage techniques. "(There are) so many things you can do today to extend the life of produce," Brous says. Fruits and vegetables should be separated and stored individually. For instance, onions can be placed in paper bags in a cool pantry, while corn is best kept in its husk in the fridge until cooked.
