Organic Milk or Organic Fruits and Veggies? Help me pick.

[aveggiegirl]

Hello Educated Cathletes,

I would like to start purchasing some organic food for my family but, unfortunately, I can only afford to but a limited amount. We eat a lot of fruits and veggies and also drink a lot of milk. Should I buy organic milk (no antibiotics and hormones) or fruits/veggies (no pesticides)? If I buy organic fruits/veggies I would only be able to buy a bag or two of apples, for example, not all of my fruits/veggies.

I have two young daughters, ages 8 and 6. This past week I bought organic milk for the girls and dh and I drank the "contaminated" milk.

I am new to organic simply because it has been too expensive so I don't really know what I should do. Could anyone out there give me some suggestions? Thanks.

 

[RapidBreath]

Definitely get the organic milk. The hormones are not cooked away and are really bad for growing little girls.

 

[Dela]

I think organic milk is a good place to start, at a minimum buy milk that explicitly says no hormones or antibiotics used.

A couple of tips I have heard about organic produce and some I have noticed. If the outer shell on the produce is not eaten and thick, like bananas, don't bother with organic, the peel/shell whatever is thick and protects the insides anyway, and their are bigger fish to fry. I have seen the prices are not always that much more for the organic produce, like the celery was a 50 cent difference last week at the store, and the carrots are in the same range, but other things can be off the charts, so I won't buy them, like I once saw $8/pound for peppers, but I think that was a fluke.

So for things that I won't be cooking and eating with the peel like apples and tomatoes, I like to get organic. Any change is a good change, I guess just compare the prices to see how large of a gap there really is between the items and go from there.

Do you have any farmers markets near you? Maybe there are some decent prices from local farmers?

I'm certainly not an expert on this subject, just sharing my thoughts, and how I go about balancing the cost.

 

[pinkquinn]

I say start with milk. I get wholefoods 365 and not horizon. I also buy on sale. I live in northern California and if I go to Monterey Market the organic produce is much less expensive than grocery stores. At farmers markets if the vendor gets to know you as regular they give you deals. I also shop around.

 

[kathryn]

The Environmental Working Group keeps a list of the most and least contaminated produce here: EWG's Shopper's Guide to Pesticides | Environmental Working Group | EWG.org

I highly recommend buying organic for the 'dirty dozen,' conventional for the 'clean 15,' and organic when you can for other (I wholeheatedly believe in supporting organics--and not the stuff imported from China like some of the stuff in Walmart and Whole Foods: who knows what China's definition of 'organic' is!--as it is healthier for the soil, the ecosystem in general, the humans working on the farms, the consumer....).

I also recommend the local farmer's market (even produce that is not 'certified organic,' because the small farmer can't afford to pay the fees associated with certification, is often grown organically or more sustainably. Just ask the farmer).

CSAs and food coops are other places to look for organic.

Buy organic sprouting seeds and grow your own sprouts for a healthy source of organic greens. (it's been a long time since I've been able to find good sprouts in stores. There is no comparison between them and home-grown).

Buying in-season produce is often less expensive.

I've found some organics (like apples, often) that are around the same price as, or even less at times than, conventionally grown produce.

 

[aveggiegirl]

Thank you Kathryn, pinkquinn, Dela and RapidBreath. You have all given me some good information and I have a good place to start my education of organic foods.

I can always count on the Cathletes. You are a wonderful group. Thanks!

 

[Hermia]

It's too bad the non-evil stuff is so much more expensive. Every time I go to Whole Foods I am astounded at the final tally at the cash register. Last time I spent nearly 100 dollars and had just a hand basket of stuff (of course, the sunscreen, wine, and L-Carnitine for the husband had a lot to do with that).