Over the past few decades, buying food with an “organic” label has become increasingly popular. While some people try only to eat organic food (since it is not treated with pesticides), most people couldn’t care less if it was organic. Unfortunately for fans of the natural movement, organic food is generally more expensive than conventional food — and that goes for everything from produce to grains to snacks to animal products.
Why Is Organic Food More Expensive?
Organic food often costs more than conventional food. This is not a hard-and-fast rule, but in most cases, an organic apple will be more traditional than a conventional one.
The higher price of organic food is understandable why many people will buy conventional food in the future; the cost of organic food may be about the same as traditional.
According to Capital Press, in 2017, $45.2 billion of the food industry’s total income was thanks to organic food. That number may sound like a lot, but only 5.5 percent of the industry’s total sales that year, which was $822.2 billion. So, since organic food represents such a small percentage of total food sales, the prices are slightly higher. If organic food demand continues to grow, the supply could be scaled up, and natural food could subsequently go down in price (your primary supply and demand).
Another reason organic food costs more is that the production process is more expensive. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), more labor is required to maintain organic farms than conventional farms since organic agricultural practices are often more complicated (and take longer) than using pesticides to manage crops. Additionally, organic farms are more likely to spend time and money protecting their croplands, for example, by practicing crop rotation, which helps build soil fertility, as per FAO.
Interestingly, it costs money to get certified as organic. In the U.S., any food product that is certified organic must be approved by the Department of Agriculture (USDA). According to The Balance Small Business, certification can cost $700 to $1,200 per farm. Not to mention, there are plenty of other responsibilities and costs associated with the certification. The USDA’s website states that “organic operations must demonstrate that they are protecting natural resources, conserving biodiversity, and using only approved substances.”
All the hoops farms must jump through to get certified hold some farmers (especially small, family-run farms) back from applying for the official organic label—even if they maintain their farms using organic practices.
What Exactly Is Organic Food?
Organic food is any food produced without synthetic or chemical pesticides or fertilizers. The organic label can apply to produce (where you probably see it the most), grains, beans, packaged snacks, and animal products.
Interestingly, regarding meat, dairy, and eggs, organic means the animals were raised on organic land, fed organic food, and not given any antibiotics or growth hormones. However, food made from animals on organic farms still includes hormones since animals naturally produce hormones just like humans; not to mention, animals on organic factory farms are still subject to the same unethical living conditions and slaughter as animals in conventional factory farms.
The opposite of organic food is “conventional” food. That term refers to any food that does not restrict the use of synthetic and chemical ingredients. Trace amounts of pesticides can be detected on many conventional fruits and vegetables, even after they are washed.
Is Organic Food Healthier?
In 2009, the NCBI found that in developed nations, the benefits of eating plenty of fresh produce “far outweigh[s] the potential risks from eating very low residues of pesticides in crops.” So, if you cannot afford organic produce, don’t let that stop you from eating fruits and vegetables since conventional food provides the same nutrient profiles as its biological counterparts.
Eating conventional produce can slightly increase the risk of developing certain diseases. A 2013 NCBI study found a strong correlation between pesticide exposure and conditions, including diabetes, certain cancers, certain neurodegenerative disorders, congenital disabilities, and reproductive disorders.
Is Organic Food Sustainable?
Growing fresh produce for human consumption is always a sustainable process in the general sense of the word since nutritious plant foods are necessary to sustain a healthy human population. However, organic farming practices are generally better for the environment than conventional produce. That’s mainly due to the pesticides used in traditional farming.
Rachel Carson’s 1962 book Silent Spring opened the public’s eyes to how harmful pesticides can be to the environment. Pesticides can negatively affect the air, water, soil, nearby plants, animals, and even human health (especially for those who work directly with pesticides).
Additionally, as mentioned above, the USDA requires organic farms to protect natural resources and biodiversity, which is positive for the planet.
A 2012 paper by the University of Oxford found that even though organic farming often requires less energy than conventional agriculture, it requires more land. This increases its environmental impact. “People need to realize that an ‘organic’ label is not a straightforward guarantee of the most environmentally friendly product,” said Hanna Tuomisto, leader of the Oxford research.
Regarding animal products, like meat, eggs, and dairy, buying organic products isn’t significantly better for the environment since the animals still require the same amount of food and produce equal emissions. Factory farming is an unsustainable practice, so the best way to lower the impact of your diet is not by switching to organic meat but by eating a plant-based diet.
Is Organic Food Worth It?
Whether organic food is worth it depends on the specific food item. Interestingly, certain kinds of foods absorb the pesticides they are treated with more than others. So, if you are interested in eating organic but don’t want to spend your entire paycheck at the grocery store, try following the Dirty Dozen and Clean.
