How to Save Money on Organic Food

The easiest way to save money on organic food is to participate in community-supported agriculture. Otherwise known as CSAs, these businesses are local farms that provide seasonal quantities of produce at regular intervals, usually once a week. If you choose a CSA that is certified organic, you can actually spend less money than you used to on regular produce.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Find a CSA site near you with a website such as Localharvest.org (see Additional Resources). These sites usually ask for your zip code and then point you to a list of all the farms in your area.

2. Click on the links to the farms closest to your home and check out the food they provide. Some provide organic dairy and meat, while others provide only organic fruits, vegetables and herbs. Some simply provide fresh produce that is not necessarily organic.

3. Note the price of a share of weekly food and how much produce your weekly basket or bin might contain. Also factor in the cost of driving to pick up the food if they don't deliver.

4. Visit each CSA that interests you or speak with a representative to find out what financial breaks might be available. Some groups base your fee on your income, for example.

Tips & Warnings

• They key to making the best use of the produce available from CSAs is to use the suggested recipes that are usually available online or in a paper form.
• Joining a CSA is also a great way to meet like-minded people who value organic food.

Resources

• Find locally grown, organic food.