Is 'Organic' worth it?

[nina_c79]

With food prices on the rise, it's not so easy to pay more for organic choices. Buying organic means you will be paying more (between 5 and 50 percent, depending on the type of product) and eating products that are likely to (but not necessarily) taste better.

Nutritionally speaking, organics are identical to their conventionally grown or produced counterparts; however, these products are free of artificial preservatives and chemicals and do not contain any genetically modified organisms. The question is, is paying extra for 'Organic' products really worth it?

[Silhouette]

No.

I think, its in some part, its at fault for the current economic crysis.

[kevenh_]

There are some better deals at Farmers' Markets that make buying organic sensible.

Over the last 2 or 3 years I've found buying from our local farmers' market to be rewarding taste wise for all items: meat, eggs, veg and prepared food like pies etc.

The eggs are cheaper than the supermarket, but generally I am paying more for the meat than I would @ none organic sources like supermarkets. But less than supermarket organic choices.

Maybe the supermarket organic section need to be shaken up a bit.

Another advantage of our (& hopefully your ) farmers; market is that you can buy in small quantities. For example, I had never bought and cooked fresh spinach, so bought 3 'leaves' - they were lovelly - cooked btw :P

[Silhouette]

but generally I am paying more for the meat than I would @ non-organic sources like supermarkets

True. My local butcher was AMAZINGLY expensive - and tasted no different.

Eggs, Veg, Fruit and the like - local markets.

Meat - has to be Tesco (or a better butcher!)

[Hotlips]

We buy organic meat when we can,unfortunately cost becomes a major factor.

Organic eggs are a must they have a whole new flavour as has corn fed chickens.

I agree with Farmers markets our local one is held only on the first Saturday of the month so not always easy to get to.

Organic vegetables and tomatoes the flavour is lovely we try to grow what we can and know its as fresh and clean as one can get at a much lower price.
Overall i feel Organic food is great but the price isnt.

[kevenh_]

Maybe a small misquote of me above.

I wasn't saying that I wasn't getting good value for the organic meat that I was buying from the farmers direct.

Just that it was dearer than the mass produced stuff at Tescos (for example) but cheaper than their organic range.

Just about on topic is that I haven't found much benefit in buying chickens to roast from a farmers' market. Supermarket ones are as good.

EDIT: edit was for the misquote possibly not being a misquote

[nina_c79]

I have only recently started growing my own veg and the taste difference between say tomatoes from Tesco compared to home-grown ones really is quite shocking.

As for meat and chicken, I have found that organic/corn fed birds have a better taste to them as well.

I haven’t noticed any difference in organic milk. Farmers markets have helped enormously in though in cutting costs.

A good rule of thumb I go by is "If you're going to eat the skin, consider going organic". If you can peel the fruit or vegetable, you're going to strip away a lot of the residues anyway - so it's not really worth the extra money.

[RudeKev]

I don't know if it a same discussion or different but I do try and buy fair trade if possible.
I will pay extra for Organic meat but less so for Fruit and veg but that's probably just me

[kevenh_]

I think it's the same discussion.

If it isn't then we'll need a debate about branding

[blythburgh]

We buy fair trade as much as possible. Organic as much as we can afford.

Meat is often pork which is from the local butcher and is from local outdoor pigs. The bacon is also from local free range pigs. The occasional chicken has to be raised in barns with a lower stocking level etc.

My Dad grew all our veg and a lot of our fruit. He didn't call it organic he just grew it the way he always did. Also most of the year the milk came from our own goats. And unlike so many people in my age group I have no food intolerances or food allergies.

I think fair trade and organic are worth paying more for but my purse is too small to buy completely organic.