When it Pays to Buy Organic
When I read the word "organic" on labels in the supermarket, what I see are extra dollar signs. Calling something organic can increase the price significantly -- especially when that label is on milk or meat. A growing body of research shows that pesticides and other contaminants are more prevalent in our food, our bodies and the environment than we previously thought. But unless you understand what labels mean and when eating organic may really matter for you and your family, you could end up wasting a lot of money.
100 PERCENT ORGANIC: No synthetic ingredients are allowed by law. Also, production processes must meet federal organic standards and must have been verified independently by accredited inspectors.
ORGANIC: At least 95 percent of ingredients are produced organically. This means 5 percent aren't and can consist of synthetics. (Exception: Organic labels on seafood are meaningless because the USDA has issued no standards when it comes to fish and shellfish. There are no USDA regulations in place, possibly because you cannot control what gets into fish, even when they are farm-raised.)
MADE WITH ORGANIC INGREDIENTS: At least 70 percent of ingredients are organic. The remaining 30 percent must come from the USDA's approved list. Apples, bell peppers, celery, cherries, strawberries, spinach, peaches, milk, chicken and beef absorb significant amounts of pesticides and chemicals when produced conventionally. These are items that warrant your consideration when produced organically. Not so with other food items that do not absorb the bad stuff so readily. In fact, there is little difference between organically produced and conventionally produced cauliflower, sweet corn, broccoli, asparagus, mangoes and peas.
To pay more for organic versions of these items is a waste of money. Organic labels on cosmetics and hair products are meaningless, so don't waste your money paying more for them. Because there are no regulations, a company can put "organic" on the label if there is one ingredient out of 100 that can be considered such. The rest can be chemicals. Instead of relying on references to "organic" on these products, look at the entire list of ingredients before shelling out the big bucks.
You can find organic growers at most farmers markets. A 2002 USDA study found that about 40 percent of those farmers don't charge a premium for their organic products. For listings of local farmers' markets and other sources, go to www.localharvest.org or www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets.
Look for a community-supported organic farm in your area. When joining, you will get a weekly supply of produce from spring through fall. You'll pay from $300 to $500 for a family of four for the season. Go to www.sare.org for a list of farms. If you're willing to pay more for organically grown meat, dairy and produce, you might be interested to know that national providers will ship items such as organic beef. Some businesses, such as FreshDirect www.freshdirect.com in the New York City area and Pioneer Organics www.pioneerorganics.com in the Pacific Northwest, offer home delivery. Other helpful sites are www.eatwellguide.org and www.theorganicpages.com.