Organic food is usually more expensive than conventional food. There are a number of factors as to why this is the case. Organic farmers don’t get the government subsidies that most conventional farmers do. This means that the cost of organic food reflects the actual price of growing the food. In addition, organic farming and producing organic products is usually more labor intensive.
Despite the higher costs, there are ways to save on organic food. Reduce your food budget and still enjoy the benefits of feeding your family organic with the following five tips.
Use Coupons and Sales
Manufacturers and stores alike are getting on board with coupons and sales for organic products. They know that their customers want to buy organic, and the organic market is now competitive enough that coupons and sales will encourage shoppers to buy certain products.
To find organic coupons, visit a coupon aggregator site, such as FreeCoupons.com or Coupons.com for printable coupons on organic products. You may also find these coupons in the Sunday coupon flyer or in store coupon books.
Check sales flyers and take advantage of promotions.
Find Store Brand Organic Food
Chain grocery stores, such as Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods offer generic or store brand organic products that may be less expensive than name brand organic products. Visit these stores and do price comparisons on your favorite items, so you’ll know where the best place is to shop. These stores also have sales and specials on their store brand products, so if you time things right, you may get a double offer of savings.
Join a CSA
CSA or Community Sponsored Agriculture groups can be a wonderful way to save money on organic produce. For one fee, you invest in a full or half-share of everything that a farm or farms produce. Many of these farms promise to use organic practices, and some of them are actually certified organic. You usually get a bounty of fresh vegetables and fruit for a small cost per week. Everything is produced locally and in season.
Shares of a CSA usually amount to between $30 and $35 a week for food worth about twice that cost.
Find the Hidden Savings
Concentrate on purchasing organic items that are the same or less cost than food that is grown or prepared organically. There are a number of inexpensive organic items available, such as carrots, coffee, cereal, bread, rice, and hamburger.
There may be others, depending on where you live. Sometimes buying something in bulk (such as organic apples) will reduce the cost difference between organic and conventional produce.
Barter Locally
No matter where you live, chances are that someone is raising organic eggs, growing organic tomatoes or baking organic bread. If that is the case, you may be able to barter for your organic food with something of equal value or a service. It is one way to get the organic food you want without the typical cost.
If you aren’t sure where to find someone to barter with, place an ad on the bulletin board at the grocery store, your child’s school, your church or your apartment building.