Is Organic Produce Worth The Cost?

They say you get what you pay for. But how much more do you really get when you buy organic?

Written by: Matt Fitzgerald

Organic produce costs more to grow than produce grown with non-organic fertilizers and pesticides.  Those extra costs are passed along to consumers. For example, the price of regular raw spinach at my local supermarket is $1.49 per pound.  The price of organic spinach is $2.49 per pound.  Is organic produce worth paying so much more for?

There is no clear answer to this question. Here are the factors to consider in making your own decision about buying organic.

Think Price Per Nutrition, Not Price Per Pound

Numerous studies have found that organic produce is more nutritious than non-organic produce.  So while you probably pay more for less food when you buy organic, you might actually pay less for more nutrition when you buy organic.  A large study comparing nutrition in organic and non-organic foods found that antioxidant levels were up to 40 percent higher in organic fruits and vegetables than in their non-organic counterparts.

Other studies have found that produce grown with today’s methods contains much lower levels of vitamins and minerals than the same foods contained decades ago. For example, a study from the University of Texas reported sharply reduced levels of six nutrients in vegetables grown in 1999 compared to the levels reported in the same foods back in 1950.

There is evidence of differences in animal foods, as well.  The first study mentioned above also found that organic milk contains up to 60 percent more antioxidants and healthy fats than non-organic milk.

A few studies have contradicted such findings, however, and in fact a recent review of the accumulated scientific literature in this area published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition concluded that nutrient levels in organic and non-organic produce are basically the same.

But defenders of the nutritional superiority of organic produce note that while a few studies have found equivalent nutrient levels in organic and non-organic produce, no research has ever found higher nutrient levels in non-organic produce. Hence, nobody is arguing that non-organic produce is better.

FILED UNDER: Nutrition TAGS: Fruits / nutrients / organic produce / pesticides / Vegetables

Matt Fitzgerald

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