Grocery Shopping Tips

1.  Read PLU Code Labels on produce:

“We don’t like 8, but 9 is fine”

2.  Know the Top 11 Foods with the highest Pesticide Residue (Environmental Working Group)

3.  Pay Now or Pay Later

Why does organic food cost more? The cost of  growing, harvesting, transportation and storage of organic food is comparable to conventional food.  However, it must meet stricter regulations, requiring a more labor & management intensive paperwork process.  According to The Organic Center, organic foods would be the same price or even less if the indirect costs of conventional farming (like cleaning polluted waters, increased health care for employees and replacement of eroded soil) were factored into the price (1).

As far as our health is concerned, the long-term costs due to increased incidence of cancer and other illnesses from non-organic foods may outweigh the short-term costs of purchasing a conventionally grown fruit or vegetable.  This is a personal choice we each must make on our own.