Where to Buy Organic Food

The first thing to note is that there are several different descriptive phrases and labels that are used on organic food. You need to understand what these phrases and labels mean so that you are actually purchasing what you think you are purchasing.

*  “Certified Organic”: A product with this label has been produced adhering to the organic standards mandated by the government of the United States.

*  “Organic”: A product with this label contains at least 95% organic materials.

*  “100% Organic” or “Certified Organic”: The term simply means that the fruit or vegetable was grown without the use of chemicals and under compliance with the U.S. rules. 

*  “Made with organic ingredients”: This means that 70% of the ingredients are organic.

*  “Contains organic ingredients”: This term means that the product contains less than 70% organic ingredients; how much less does not have to be specified.

Organic foods and other organic or “green” products are sold at health food stores and at herbal medicine shops. Major grocery chains now carry a line of “organic” food products and other “green” products. You can also find foods that are labeled “organic” at local farmer’s markets. There are many sites online to buy organic products as well.

If you are determined to go organic, you need to remember that you are going to pay more for organic products. They cost more, but they are considered safer for human consumption by advocates for organically produced food.

Another source for organic food is a membership in a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. Subscribers to CSA programs receive a weekly or monthly basket of locally grown, in-season fruits, vegetables, flowers, eggs, milk, and sometimes other products like coffee or tea.

Truly Yours,

A Alexander Event and Catering

Consumer Demand for Organic Food

Price (whether the market likes to admit it or not) really is controlled by consumer demand for products and services. When demand falls, price also falls. When demand increases, price also increases. It’s a simple formula that isn’t very easily manipulated (although the oil companies are doing a pretty good job of manipulating it at the present, but that’s another article). We’re talking about organic food and the demand for it.

Today all health food stores and most herbal medicine stores carry some organic food items. Big chain grocery stores are also beginning to carry a line of organic products as well. The reason that more retailers are carrying organic products is because more consumers are demanding organic products. And, of course, the price is growing up. Price is going up because demand has increased and supply has not. There is less product desired by more people. Big demand + small supply = high prices.

I also like to think that people are just getting smarter when it comes to food choices. We’ve become a weight-conscious nation. You can hardly find a person who doesn’t know what calories, carbohydrates, and proteins are. Even little kids know the difference between saturated fat and unsaturated fat. Now the population is becoming more and more aware of how the food on grocery store shelves is produced. The problems with contaminated products from China raised awareness, I think, and that’s a good thing. (Not the contaminated products, but the awareness of the contaminated products.)

There is a rule, however, that says that what goes up must also come down. As more and more people demand organically produced food, more and more producers of food will choose to grow their products using organic methods. As more supply becomes available, the prices will go
down. It’s going to take a while, though.

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