Organic vs. Traditional Farming: Is it worth the extra cost at the grocery store?

These days everybody is on a budget and a dollar doesn’t seem to stretch like it used to. Because of that we have to cut corners somewhere and we may start at entertainment, new clothes, and eating out. Maybe we’ll cancel cable, change our cell phone provider, or turn off the lights. One thing we can’t get rid of though is our food budget. We may be able to reduce it to the bare minimum, but we all need to eat. This brings up an interesting dilemma at the grocery store, it’s obviously cheaper to buy non-organic food, but are the organic products worth the extra cost?

At its base, organic farming doesn’t use pesticides while traditional farming does. “Organic farming is a ecological production management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity”². With management practices focused on enhancing the quality of land, organic farmers can create havens for various species. Birds, bees and butterflies along with increased soil habitat are better for the environment and the health of the plants. There is no need to use harmful pesticides because “organic farming increases biodiversity among beneficial, pest-killing predators and pathogens”². It can also create larger yields of produce. In a study conducted by Washington State University test plots of organic potatoes produced larger potato plants and had fewer insect pests⁷.

Traditional farming methods can use up to 31,000 tons of chemicals to kill weeds, insects and various pests³. These chemicals are meant to kill anything that is not supposed to be there, and they don’t stop once all the bugs are gone. They leech into the soil and our groundwater, polluting important areas and contaminating our natural resources. Common pesticides have been linked to miscarriages and birth defects, along with lowering male sperm count and can cause infertility⁸. Intensive agriculture like monocroping, where a single crop is planted in large areas, has increased crop production but posses several environmental problems⁶. The most devastating factor of intensive agriculture is soil degradation. Soil is a living entity, full of life spanning from earthworms to bacteria. If soil is healthy it can provide food, water and air to growing plants. The more nutrients available in the soil, the more nutrients the plant receives and can pass on to us when we eat it. Soil nutrients come from minerals in the earth, as well as dead plants and animals. It takes a long time for soil to develop, but it can be rapidly lost due to erosion. Some research suggests that using fertilizers suppresses the diversity of life in soil, making it unhealthy and hard to grow plants⁹. By reducing the diversity of soil it compromises its structure. This can lead to the loss of valuable topsoil and nutrients needed for proper plant growth.

Along with pesticides, some non-organic farmers use genetically modified (GM) seeds. The largest GM crops in the US are corn, soy and canola. These crops have been linked to allergic reactions, sick, sterile and dead livestock and damage to almost all organs in laboratory-tested animals⁴. Genetically modified crops go through a process where genes from the DNA of one species are extracted and forced into the genes of an unrelated plant or animal. These genes can come from anywhere; bacteria, viruses, insects and even humans. A vast majority of processed food in the US contains genetically modified ingredients. Although genetic modification has attempted to increase nutritional benefits or productivity, they have only accomplished herbicide tolerance and the ability for the plant to produce its own pesticide. Neither of these provides health benefits⁴. Between the pesticides and the genetically modified seeds the extra money at the grocery store seems to be worth the cost.

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It really is not that big of a difference in the price of organic and non-organic produce. The difference averages between 10-70 cents per grocery item⁸. A small price to pay to keep the chemicals associated with traditional farming out of your body. There are ways to keep the cost down which may take a little getting used to, but it’s a simple habit to change. The best thing to do would be to buy directly from the farmer. Some small farms have a stand at their property to sell their goods; here you can guarantee that the produce is fresh and organic. Since these are usually family-owned businesses you may have a chance to meet your farmer. If going out to the farm won’t fit in your schedule, visit your local farmers market, or join a CSA. Some Community Supported Agriculture will deliver your produce right to your door. It really doesn’t get more convenient than that. The website www.localharvest.org can help you find CSA’s in your area and inform you of your various options for local organic agriculture.

http://www.live-the-organic-life.com/organic-food-cost.html

 If you live in an area where farmers markets and organic farms are not an option for you, there is still hope. While organic produce will always cost more than conventional, the price of in-season fruits and vegetables is usually lower. Know what is available in your area during the year and plan your meals around what’s fresh that month. There are various charts and websites available to learn more about seasonal produce in your area. For instance, www.epicurious.com has a fun interactive map. Not only will you be supporting better farming practices, maybe you’ll find a new love for vegetables.

While organic produce may be more expensive it is worth it. Michael Pollan says, “…Whenever I hear people say clean food is expensive, I tell them it’s actually the cheapest food you can buy. I explain that with our food all the costs are figured into the price. Society is not bearing the cost of pollution, illness and subsidies-the hidden costs to the environment that makes cheap food seem cheap. You can buy honestly priced food or you can buy irresponsibly priced food.” By choosing organic, not only will you be doing yourself a favor by not ingesting harmful chemicals. With organic you vote with your dollar, to increase soil health and diversity of crops, and to show that you care about yourself and the future health of our food system. Choosing local produce and going to the farmer directly can help curb the increased cost, even planting a garden in your backyard can help. If you need more convincing please watch this TED talk by 11-year old Birke Baeher, a young man who is planning a career as an organic farmer.

1. Bengtsson, Janne, Johan Ahnström, and Ann-Christin Weibull. "The Effects of Organic Agriculture on Biodiversity and Abundance: A Meta-Analysis."Journal of Applied Ecology, 42.2 (2005): 261-269.

2. Gold, M. V.. N.p.. Web. 10 Jun 2013. <http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/pubs/ofp/ofp.shtml>.

3. Harris, K. N.p., n. d. 28 May 2013. <http://www.mnn.com/food/healthy-eating/blogs/5-reasons-to-buy-organic-despite-the-stanford-study>.

4. Institute for Responsible Technology. Web. 28 May 2013. <http://responsibletechnology.org/gmo-education>.

5. Kremen, Claire, and Albie Miles. "Ecosystem Services in Biologically Diversified Versus Conventional Farming Systems: Benefits, Externalities, and Trade-Offs." Ecology & Society, 17.4 (2012): 153-177.

6. Mäder, Paul, Andreas Fließbach, David Dubois, Lucie Gunst, Padruot Fried, and Urs Niggli. "Soil Fertility and Biodiversity in Organic Farming."Science, New Series, 296.5573 (2002): 1694-1697.

7. Martin, J.. N.p.. Web. 28 May 2013. <http://www.csrees.usda.gov/newsroom/news/2010news/07011_organic_study.html>.

8. N.p.. Web. 28 May 2013. <http://www.live-the-organic-life.com/organic-food-cost.html>.

9. N.p.. Web. 12 Jun 2013. <http://www.soilassociation.org/whatisorganic/organicfarming/healthysoil>.

10. Organic Research Center, . N.p.. Web. 27 May 2013. <http://www.organicresearchcentre.com/manage/authincludes/article_uploads/ORC Biodiversity benefits of organic farming v4.pdf>.