Organic - Price Prohibitive?

Debt_Free_Chick

There's no doubt that organic is more expensive, but to be fair, it's more expensive to produce. Anyone who grows their own veg organically will know how "labour-intensive" this can be. Also, it can take 3 years to convert land to the Soil Association Organic status, during which time the farmer is not growing any crops.

Sadly, we have become accustomed to cheap food. If you accept that organic food is "the norm", then you have to ask yourself why non-organic is so cheap. For meat, the answer is not at all palatable.

It's a very difficult dilemma for a family on a budget. For vegetables, however, I would urge a family to consider an allotment, though there may be a waiting list in some areas. We grow our own vegetables and use the saving in our food budget to buy organic or, at the very least, free-range meat.

I agree with all others about the taste & quality of home-grown veg. The difference in taste & quality between organic/free-range meat & non is equally vast.

Good luck all

Bargain_Rzl

squeaky wrote:

Rhubarb!!!!

Yeeeesss...

...but once you've got it you end up with so much of it that you'll never eat ANYTHING else EVER again! I grew up in a rhubarb-growing household and it seemed as though we had rhubarb crumble/stewed rhubarb (etc) every week... it's a good thing I like the stuff!

Here's a thought - I bet rhubarb makes great ice-cream.

DaisyNelson

Anyone know of an organic veg box in South Mnachester? At a reasonable price of course.

Debt_Free_Chick

Bargain_Rzl wrote:

Yeeeesss...

...but once you've got it you end up with so much of it that you'll never eat ANYTHING else EVER again! I grew up in a rhubarb-growing household and it seemed as though we had rhubarb crumble/stewed rhubarb (etc) every week... it's a good thing I like the stuff!

Here's a thought - I bet rhubarb makes great ice-cream.

I make rhubarb crumble ice-cream

Magentasue

Debt_Free_Chick wrote:

I make rhubarb crumble ice-cream

Yes -in that gorgeous ice cream maker of yours! stop tempting me!:drool:

Alison_B

DaisyNelson wrote:

Anyone know of an organic veg box in South Mnachester? At a reasonable price of course.

Try http://www.stockleyfarm.co.uk/ or http://www.northernharvest.co.uk/

Alison

filigree_2

I agree with the idea that if you can't afford 100% organic shopping then stick to buying the "worst" items organic. Others have said lettuce, chicken and carrots and I'd add apples which (allegedly) are the worst fruit for pesticide residues. As most of us eat the skin of apples this is quite worrying.

I also heard that "pick your own" fruit farms use excessive amounts of sprays.

Sorry I can't quote my sources but I can't find the darn book! I think it was called "The organic shopper's guide" and was published in the late 90's.

squeaky

It would be great if we had, say, a top ten list of organics to buy so that people could pick to suit their tastes and their budgets!

So that's you off to the mines to find the book!



But seriously - if you come across it please let us know if there's such a list in it.

Does anyone else have it close to hand, please?

Trollydolly_2

I really cant afford organic food, its "smartprice" all the way for me BUT i always try to get organic eggs when i can.

The colour of them is just amazing! Even if they arnt 100% organic and i get fresh farm eggs from the market, you can really see the difference. Less of a flouresent colour!

filigree_2

squeaky wrote:

It would be great if we had, say, a top ten list of organics to buy so that people could pick to suit their tastes and their budgets!

So that's you off to the mines to find the book!



But seriously - if you come across it please let us know if there's such a list in it.

Does anyone else have it close to hand, please?

It's called the New Shopper's Guide to Organic Food by Lynda Brown, available from Amazon:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1841154253/qid=1115086544/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_10_1/026-4795865-4403619

or from the cheap retailer of your choice

I haven't seen this 2002 edition, but the 1998 version was very useful. It catered for all tastes, from the organic novice to the really die-hard types.

My only reservation is that the info on phone numbers etc for organic suppliers will now be a few years out of date, but if you can track down a cheap/2nd hand copy it is still worth buying.