Eating Organic on a Budget

Published in

Hungry Fan

2 min readAug 28, 2012

Eating organic isn’t known as the most wallet-friendly of dietary choices. In fact, organic foods can cost up to twice as much as their non-organic counterparts. Fortunately, organic living doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Here are some tips for eating organic on a budget!

1. Buy Local

Local, inexpensive organic produce really isn’t that hard to find. Just take a peak around your local farmers market. Chances are they’ll have lots of great deals on all your favorites. Plus, everything is in season so it will be especially delicious!

2. Cook with the Seasons

Crops are the cheapest at times when they are most abundant. So, if tomatoes, are in season between July and September, then that’s the time to stock up! Not only will the cost be lower, but the quality will be that much better. Don’t worry about buying too much, either. You can always can, dry or pickle the leftovers! In the event that you run out in the off-season, try your hand at cooking with other ingredients that happen to be in season.

Take a look at Epicurious’ Seasonal Ingredient Map to learn more.

3. Join the Club!

We all know that buying bulk saves money. So why not gather some of your friends, pool your resources, buy direct from wholesalers and split the goods? Joining or creating a food buying club is a great way to afford more expensive items.

4. Be a little Picky

Times are tough and there may be instances where we can’t afford to buy organic across the board. If this is the case, make your organic decisions wisely. Check out the Environmental Working Group’s Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides for some handy advice. The report outlines the “dirty dozen” fruits and veggies with the most pesticide contact as well as the “clean 15”. Choose organic for the “dirty dozen” and give yourself a little wiggle room with the others.

5. Put those Green Thumbs to Work!

Here’s one surefire way to save money and eat organic: grow your own food. Planting your own vegetable or herb garden grants you complete control. No more chemicals or flavorless produce!