Buying Produce on a Budget
Whenever I am talking with someone about buying organic produce, the conversation always turns to cost. And while it’s true that organic fruits and veggies tend to be more expensive than “conventional” varieties, it’s easy to buy produce without breaking the bank.
Eat in Season: As winter sets in many parts of the country, there aren’t as many local seasonal choices to choose from. But if you look hard you should be able to find items grown by local farmers. Winter vegetable varieties include lettuces, cabbage, garlic, onions, and carrots. Other veggies like broccoli, cauliflower, and several varieties of greens are also grown during the colder fall and winter months. Buying foods that are in season means that you have a large variety to choose from, and prices are usually lower.
Buy Local: Produce that is grown locally is allowed to fully ripen before being picked. Vegetables that are shipped across the country (or overseas!) are usually harvested when still green and as a result lack some flavor and nutrients gained from ripening. There are many advantages of buying at local farmers markets, including tastier and cheaper veggies, less local pollution, and community support. I have often found vegetables that were raised organically at farmers markets for far cheaper than I could buy them at the local Publix (my nearest chain grocery store).
Start a Container Garden: Grow your own! If you have a backyard to use, then start a garden. If you live in an apartment or condo, grow fruits and veggies in containers around your place or on a balcony. Start-up costs like pots, soil, and seeds quickly pay for themselves when you harvest your veggies. I enjoyed tomatoes and two types of peppers this past summer. In total, the materials probably cost me about $20, and I probably got about 50 tomatoes and peppers from my container garden. Buying those in a store would have cost me much more.
Don’t let the price of fresh, organic produce deter you from a healthy diet. If you look outside of the large grocery stores, organic options are usually available and affordable.
“Eaters must understand, how we eat determines how the world is used.” -Animal, Vegetable, Miracle
Hey Joe!! I’m reading this book right now and it’s sooo good. Everyone should absolutely try their best to support their local farmers by shopping at farmer’s markets, choosing restaurants/diners that buy their ingredients from local farmers, and food co-ops/grocers that sell locally grown produce and meats. I could go into a whole rant. A few weeks ago, a buddy and I were discussing farming (economically, as a livelihood, etc.). This book explains everything I wanted to say but couldn’t at the time. Large-scale farmers don’t get much control over their lot while small-scale farmers struggle to compete with their (both conventional and organic) corporate-owned counterparts. Many small-scale farmers use organic methods to grow their produce but can’t afford the hundreds of dollars a year it costs to get and stay certified. I gotta stop now or I’ll keep going.
Great blog man. Take care. -J