6 Foods That May Be Cheaper When You Buy Them Organic

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When it comes to organic food versus conventionally grown food, you might automatically assume that one is more expensive than the other. However, that’s not always the case. According to Organic.org, organic food is “grown without the use of pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, genetically modified organisms, ionizing radiation… antibiotics or growth hormones.” With all that work, no wonder organic food is often pricier than conventionally grown food.

However, when it comes to shelf life, some foods may actually be more affordable when bought organically because they often last longer. And even if they’re not more affordable, then they may be so similar in price that it could be worth the purchase. Here are six foods to consider buying organic the next time you’re grocery shopping.

1. Milk

Organic milk is a great option because its shelf life is almost three times that of regular milk. Organic milk often lasts for 40 days, while regular milk may only last for 14 to 21 days. With that in mind, look at the price breakdown of organic milk versus conventionally pasteurized milk. It could end up being 1 cent cheaper per day, or 40 cents cheaper over the course of the milk’s shelf life. Depending on how fast you drink your milk, buying organic may also save you from throwing out spoiled milk (and money).

2. Eggs

Fresh eggs last pretty long as long as you keep them refrigerated. With a lifespan that’s often three to four weeks after you purchase them, going organic is a no-brainer. One dozen organic eggs will probably cost you around $4.99, while conventional eggs can be on sale for as low as $2.99 or less, depending on the store, your location, membership savings and more.

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However, if you compare the general cost of organic eggs to conventional eggs, it might only be $1 more than you’re spending. That extra dollar gets you 12 eggs that have no antibiotics or growth hormones, which could bring you peace of mind. Also, if you look at the price breakdown of that $1 across three to four week that the eggs may live in your refrigerator, it’s really no more than 4 cents per day. And with a coupon, you could end up paying the same price (if not less for organic eggs) which means they’d actually be cheaper than the regular ones.

Pro Tip: Use an app like Ibotta to save even more money at the grocery store. You could end up getting cash back for those organic eggs.

3. Honey

First off, honey has one of the longest shelf lives of any product in your kitchen. With that said, buying organic honey may cost you an extra $1 or $2, but it could even out over time, depending on how long you keep the sweet stuff in your cabinet. Whole Foods Market’s 365 Everyday Value brand of organic honey costs about 46 cents per ounce, while the regular ShopRite brand costs about 33 cents per ounce. However, organic raw honey has higher levels of vitamins, minerals, enzymes and other nutrients than regular honey because it is not pasteurized and processed in the same way as conventional honey. With that in mind, you could end up getting more bang for your buck when it comes to honey by increasing the amount of nutrition you get per cent spent.

4. Chicken

How many times have you bought chicken and planned to cook it for dinner, yet it sat in the fridge unopened for a week instead? Yeah, we’ve been there. Instead of buying a cheaper package of chicken only to throw it out after not cooking it, buy organic the day you’re cooking instead. Think about it: regular chicken is often only $1 less per pound than organic chicken. If you end up tossing it before you even cook it, then that’s money in the garbage. Spend the extra $1 on the day you plan to cook your chicken and buy it organic. Organic chicken is fed organic food with no pesticides, receives no antibiotics and must have access to the outdoors, according to Reuters, so you can also feel good about what you’re eating. We’d like to say that’s a win for our wallet and well-being.

5. Sweet Potatoes

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During our research, we found that regular sweet potatoes and organic sweet potatoes were the same price per potato on ShopRite’s website. At about 50 cents per potato, it’s a no-brainer to buy organic instead. Of course, the price may differ per store and location, but the benefits will be the same. Potatoes are on the list of the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) Dirty Dozen and were found to have more pesticides residue by weight than any other crop. Going organic helps eliminate those pesticides and shouldn’t cost you anything more.

Pro Tip: Start your grocery shopping online. You can easily filter by organic products to compare prices and add items to your list before even stepping foot in the store. It could save you time and money.

6. Spinach

A great source of iron, spinach is a must when it comes to buying organic. Also on the list of the EWG’s Dirty Dozen, 97 percent of spinach was found to have pesticide residue and high levels of permethrin, a neurotoxic insecticide. The good news is that you can get organic spinach for less than regular spinach. During our research, we found organic fresh baby spinach on ShopRite’s website for just 31 cents per ounce. Other regular brands of fresh baby spinach ranged in price from 31 cents or ounce to 70 cents per ounce.

At the end of the day, organic foods have health benefits that could end up saving you money in the long run. It’s important to always shop around for the best price before heading to the store, too — you could end up saving even more on other organic foods. Consider the investment you’re making in your well-being by stretching your wallet a little bit more by buying organic. It could make a difference in the future.

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