5 Tips for Buying Organic on a Budget

I get asked often if I only buy organic foods and although I wish I could say yes, the truth is that I can’t afford to buy organic everything. But, I have picked up a few tips when it comes to saving money and buying organic. Interested? Read on…

1.) Know what items are most important to buy organic

The list of produce items below are deemed the “dirty dozen” because the USDA found that even after washing, these fruits and vegetables consistently carry much higher levels of pesticide residue than others. These items are the ones that you want to try to buy organically whenever possible.

Many grocers have weekly sales that are announced in their print ads and online e-newsletters. You can easily go to the retailers website and sign up so you never miss a deal! You can also visit your favorite brands’ websites for coupons- most organic companies are always offering coupons on their sites- (i.e. Organic Valley Coupons or Stonyfield Organic Coupons). Also, Mambo Sprouts, a great organic coupon company, sends coupons to your doorstep or inbox. In addition, you can find their booklets at most organic grocery stores.

I never leave Whole Foods without picking up The Whole Deal and a Mambo Sprouts coupon booklet.

I also love that Whole Foods puts a sign by the products that have coupons in The Whole Deal.

4.) Shop at Farmers’ Markets / Join a Co-op or a CSA

Farmers’ Markets sell foods that are grown locally and are in season. The carbon footprint of your food is drastically diminished and the food is usually tastier and cheaper. Plus, you can chat with the person who makes or grows the food you buy! If organic is important to you, make sure you ask if the products are grown organically because not everything at the Farmers’ Market is organic.
Co-ops a.k.a food cooperatives are member-owned businesses providing groceries and other products to members at a discount. Many of the products sold at co-ops are organic. To join, you simply pay dues or volunteer.
CSA, Community Supported Agriculture, is a program where you buy a share and give the farmer’s the money up front. Typically the share means you receive a box of vegetables each week throughout the growing season. Certain CSAs, like the one I joined this year, actually let you debt from your account so you get the items/amount that you want for the week, not just a random assortment.

Find all the options near you buy visiting www.localharvest.org.

5.) Buy in Bulk

As I mentioned in a previous post, I love bulk bins. Most of the time you can find organic dry goods for less. Just make sure you do your research and know the prices because some stores are cheaper than others and some items aren’t worth buying from the bulk bins. Another option is to shop at wholesale places like Costco- they are starting to carry more organic foods as the demand increases. Lastly, most stores give you a discount if you buy a full carton of things. People are even starting buying-clubs where members purchase food and other organic products in bulk and then split the stash. My dad and I do this often with Costco goods and it works great!

Hopefully I mentioned at least a couple things that will help you save when buying organic. Do you have any tips that I left off?

-Brittany
PS – These last few days have been busy and crazy with a few fun activities thrown in for good measure. I’ll be back with a recap ASAP. Until then…

Tagged as: a, Budget, on, Organic