Here are some tips to have cheaper organic foods:

1. Research
Before heading to the supermarket, search the Web for local organic associations or organizations in your town or state. Buying local is often cheaper.

2. Buy items seasonally
Fruits and vegetables that are in season will be more abundant on store shelves and will usually cost less and, as an added bonus, taste great. Whether you buy in-season items from a local grower or your supermarket, the items are always cheaper than items not in-season.

Be flexible with your shopping and purchase items that are on sale: if oranges are on sale, buy them instead of other fruits.

3. Buy locally
Local growers will have items that are in season and will have them priced to sell. Also ask about discounts and bargains, or if there are “seconds” (misshaped foods that are fine otherwise) for sale.

The added benefit of buying locally is that you can usually speak with someone who works the farm. You can ask questions about the food and even get tips on preparing the food. Buying locally also helps sustain the local economy.

4. Buy in bulk
When items are on sale, stock up. This is especially true of canned items, cereals, dried fruits and beans (canned, bagged, or bulk). Be careful to store the items at home; you don’t want items to expire. And with fresh foods, some are good for a number of days, or try preserving fruits or canning vegetables. Freezing is also a good way to have fresh foods available any time.

Also if you are feeding a big family, you may consider joining a co-op or buying club. A co-op is a member-owned business that provides groceries and other products to its members at a discount. With a buying club, members purchase food and other organic products in bulk and then share with all the members.

5. Grow your own
A family garden is a great way to have fresh, healthy fruits and vegetables at a fraction of the cost of buying them at the supermarket. Check with your garden center about which plants to start early in the season, like strawberries; those that thrive in the summer heat, like tomatoes; and those that will last into the fall, like chard and kale. Also start slow and pick items that are easy to grow.

Try to reduce the amounts of processed foods in your diet. You get less nutritional benefits from processed foods, organic or not.
Always wash vegetables and fruit well; some stores sell special detergents for this. Just because it is labeled organic doesn’t mean it is safe to eat without a wash; bacteria thrive under all conditions.

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