How to Eat Organic Foods on a Budget

Whether it's because of worries about food safety, ecological concerns, or just a desire to eat fresher, less processed foods, more and more food shoppers are buying organic these days. Yet organic foods and beverages can cost as much as 50% to 100% more than conventional foods -- and prices are going up for both organic and conventionally grown items.

Still, rising prices don't have to mean that cost-conscious consumers must give up the advantages of organic food. Here are some tips on how shoppers can stretch their food dollars for organic foods, and information about other food options that may be equally kind to the planet.

What Exactly Are Organic Foods?

Don't confuse terms such as "free-range," "hormone free" or "natural" with organic. While they may be truthful, these terms are not regulated by law. Look for the following regulated terms on food labels:

• "100% organic" is for foods that have no allowable synthetic ingredients and can use the U.S. Department of Agriculture's organic seal.
• "Organic" foods have a minimum of 95% organic ingredients and are also eligible by law to use the USDA organic seal.
• "Made with Organic Ingredients" must contain at least 70% organic ingredients. These foods are not eligible for the USDA seal.

A USDA organic seal indicates that the food was grown, harvested, and processed according to national organic standards that restrict the amounts and residues of pesticides, hormones, and antibiotics.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, foods called "organic" cannot be treated with any synthetic pesticides, sewage sludge, bioengineering, or ionizing radiation. They may, however, use biological pesticides (those derived from a natural source).

Keep in mind that while years ago, most "organic" foods you found at your neighborhood health food store came from small, local farms, this is now more the exception than the rule. Today, organic foods are big business, sold in chain groceries and often produced by multinational companies and then trucked across the country.