What's out: Organic food. What's in: Buying by price.
Filed under: Budgets, Food, Family Money, Recession
What's Out: Buying Organic. Pregnant with my first child about four years ago, I did what most first-time parents do: I boned up on baby books. I also started to obsess about food and where it came from. Was the animal grass-feed and allowed to roam free? Was this pear sprayed with pesticides? Did this cleaning product contain harmful chemicals?
Organic became my family's mantra. We weren't alone. The U.S. organic industry grew from $14.6 billion to $17.7 billion between 2005 and 2006 and is estimated to jump to $21.2 billion in 2007, according to the Organic Trade Association. So when I could, I would trek 18 blocks to the nearest Whole Foods or scour my local supermarket for my fix of brands like Seventh Generation, Kashi, and Horizon.
What's In: Buying according to Price Let's be honest: in today's economy, our paychecks are not going as far as they used to. Where once a pound of organic, grass-fed ground beef cost me $5.50, it's now climbed to $7.70. Where once my favorite organic yogurt retailed at 79 cents, it is now 99 cents. As a result, I'm weaning myself off my organic habit. When it comes to vegetables, meat and milk, I am still willing to pay a little more for the peace of mind that I am doing the best for my daughter.
But I'm learning to be not as rigid with fruits, pastas, cereals and other dry goods. With many other families also reassessing their spending habits, it's not surprising that organic retailers are taking a hit. According to market research firm, Nielson Company, sales grew only four percent over the previous year for the four-week period that ended Oct. 4 compared to 20 percent other years. Even Wall Street darling Whole Foods is facing the toughest time in its history. The Texas-based purveyor of all things organic reported that fourth quarter profits dropped because of their acquisition of rival Wild Oats and the slowing economy.
If prices go down, I will be one of the first to get back on the organic bandwagon. But with my husband and I working in journalism, an industry that never paid well to begin with and is now shedding jobs in every outlet, I have to be more discerning.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-21-2008 @ 4:50PM
Constantly said...
There are coupons at Whole Foods. Just visit the service desk. Pamphlets filled with coupons for store brand and other foods. Also, their website has coupons. Type in the search bar: "foods that should be organic" to help you discern what to always buy organic and what can be skipped.
Reply
11-26-2008 @ 3:28PM
SL in NY said...
I won't eat organic! Anyone in the food industry knows that they use animal doo doo etc haha to fertilize organically grown crops. Its the same farmers growing the stuff as well -- they have an organic and regular growing area on their farms. I especially won't eat anything organic that is grown under the ground (a potato). While pesticides aren't great at all, used carefully, they have extended lives of people over the last 50 years of their use. I'm sure not going to pay more to eat organic when you can get very sick from it as well. Remember that the contaminated lettuce and green onion scare came from produce grown in Mexico that was fertilized with sewage, which we do here but certify it "organic". YUCK!
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11-29-2008 @ 5:44PM
Dr. tim said...
Although you make a minor point you are sorely misinformed. Organic is a registration and stringent set of rules that producers must follow to make and distribute these products. By the way there are no regulations for pesticide or fungicide or the amount or type for non organic. You must be aware of the dirty dozen vegetables and the FDA DOES NOT CHECK FOREIGN IMPORTS UNLESS their cetified organic; also hormones, antibodics growth hormones, and what ever else they want in it can be placed I would suggest strongly that all consumers checkout Consumer Reports on buying non organic and organic products. It's your life if you don't take care of it now it won't take care of you later. Second buy from farmers markets or grow it yourself It's much cheaper if you grow it yourself . Also refer to FDA guidelines on organic products.