Is organic really more expensive?
Some organic foods cost more than non-organic foods, but not always. Fruits, vegetables, coffee, cereals, and many other foods may cost the same or even less than their non-organic counterparts. If you find that some organic foods cost more, here are the reasons why:
- Organic farmers don’t receive government support — such as subsidies and tax breaks — that non-organic farmers do. Therefore, the price of organic food reflects the true cost of producing it.
- The price of non-organic food does not reflect the cost of damage to the environment, including water pollution from fertilizers, pesticides and animal manure, or topsoil erosion, depletion of aquifers, and reduction of plant and animal biodiversity. We pay for these hidden costs through taxes.
- The price of non-organic food does not account for health care expenses for cancer, obesity and other disease related to unhealthy food systems. We pay for these costs with higher health insurance premiums.
- Organic food can be more expensive to produce because it requires more labor and management, and because the “inputs” — including fertilizers, seeds, pest control, animal feed and others — are more expensive for organic farmers than for non-organic.
- The supply of organic food may be less than the demand, depending on seasonal availability.
See also: The true cost of food
If all the indirect costs of non-organic food production were factored into the price of food, organic foods most likely would be cheaper!