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Organic Grocery Shopping on a Budget |
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By: Jon Boyd Barrett
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 For some people, eating organic produce is not important. For others, eating organic is seen as a way to consume more nutritious foods, and avoid those unhealthy pesticides, hormones, and chemicals that are often added to conventional food.
If you have already read the “Frugal Grocery Shopping on a Budget” article, you will have received some general grocery shopping tips, but here are some ways showing how you can save money on organic produce: |
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Prioritize With the Foods You Buy Organic
When buying organic groceries on a budget, it is not essential to buy everything organic. Meats and dairy produce certainly should be, in order to avoid the hormones and antibiotics that they contain. However, when it comes to fruits and vegetables, certain produce retains pesticides more than others. Generally speaking, fruits and vegetables with a protective skin are a lot less prone to containing pesticides, although there are some exceptions to this.
Take a note of these lists below. The "Buy Organic" section shows the fruits and vegetables that tend to absorb a lot of pesticides when grown conventionally. The "Conventional OK" list shows which fruits and vegetables do not absorb many pesticides, and therefore can be purchased non-organic.
| Buy Organic |
Conventional OK |
| Peaches |
Asparagus |
| Nectarines |
Avocados |
| Berries |
Onions |
| Apples |
Broccoli |
| Pears |
Eggplant |
| Grapes |
Kiwi |
| Celery |
Banana |
| Bell Peppers |
Cauliflower |
| Potatoes |
Corn |
| Cucumbers |
Pineapple |
| Spinach |
Mango |
| Lettuce |
Peas |
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Consider the Seasons
In the frugal approach to buying organic, we must consider that the different seasons will have a big impact on the price for some fruits and vegetables. Berries for example will be cheaper in the summer, along with melons, bell peppers, and tomatoes. Some examples of some typical winter produce are citrus fruits, avocados, and root vegetables.
Taking the seasons into account when preparing your weekly meals will help to keep your grocery bill lower. |
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Organic Grocery Coupons
The truth is, you may find it difficult to obtain coupons for organic produce in the local papers and on those coupon websites. However, this doesn’t mean that they don’t exist. A lot of the organic produce manufacturers offer coupons directly through their websites. Also, some natural food shops will have websites where you can sign up to receive special offers.
Here are some links to organic manufacturers web pages, that offer coupons:
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Organic Foods at Farmers Market
The best organic food is that which is grown closest to you. It is usually cheaper as well, plus you will be supporting your local community.
An excellent resource for locating your nearest farmers markets is at LocalHarvest. |
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Bulk Buy
You can get discounts on organic foods by buying in bulk. You can buy bulk organic grains and canned foods online for big savings.
Here are some websites specializing in that:
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As well as buying online, a lot of the superstores including Target and Walmart, are now catching on to the organic trend. At Costco for example, you can buy some organic fruits and vegetables very cheaply. Some fruits, like berries, can be frozen to store.
If buying processed foods, be wary of big name brands claiming to sell organic products.
Look for the USDA approved label, and ensure that it states 100% organic.
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Growing Your Own Food
Growing your own vegetables and fruits will mean that you won't be using those pesticides that the commercial farmers use. To do this, you wil ideally need a garden and some time to spare.
For more information, see “How to grow your own food”. |
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Cook From Scratch
Organic vegetables are cheaper than buying processed foods, organic or non-organic. Cook more dishes from scratch, using only fresh foods.
Additionally, if you double the quantity of ingredients, you will be able to freeze the leftovers for another night, saving you some time and money. |
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