How to Save Money on Organic Groceries

Shopping organic has been steadily growing in popularity with more and more options available in traditional supermarkets. With more food being imported from other countries and concerns about pollutants- whether biological or chemical- it's more important than ever to know where your food is coming from, how it's handled, and how it's made. However, with rising food costs, more people are struggling to feed their families healthy and well-balanced meals. This article gives tips and tricks from a bargain-hunting expert about how to stretch your organic dollar.

This article highlights 15 tried and true tips and tricks to help you save green by shopping green. Try them all, or just those that suit your needs. Some you may have heard before while others are not so obvious. Whatever your lifestyle these tips will guarantee that you get the best deals on the healthiest products. At the end of the article I'll provide you with a list of helpful links (including those in the article) that you can bookmark and reference for more information about shopping organic. Ready to get started?

Tip #1 Shop the Dirty Dozen
The dirty dozen is a list put together of the fruits and vegetables most saturated by chemicals and pesticides. By shopping the dirty dozen, you can manage your exposure to the most contaminated fruits and vegetables. For a list of rankings you can visit the Environmental Working Groups guide and view all of the information associated with 43 different fruits and vegetables. There is even a handy printable wallet guide that you can take with you to the store to serve as a reminder about which produce you should buy organic.

The top 12 worst offenders:

Peaches
Apples
Sweet Bell Peppers
Celery
Nectarines
Strawberries
Cherries
Lettuce
Grapes (Imported)
Pears
Spinach
Potatoes

Since I am trying to stretch my organic dollars, I try to buy things like bell peppers, lettuces, celery, apples, and potatoes that are grown organically. But unless the prices are equal, you likely won't find be buying organic onions, avocados, or pineapples since they are some of the safest traditional fruits and vegetables to buy. If there is a fruit or vegetable that isn't on the list, or you can't remember where it is on the list there are a few things to consider. As a rule of thumb, fruits and vegetables with a thick peel or skin that you remove are towards the bottom of the list. Think cabbage, onions, avocados, and bananas. Items where you eat the peel or skin, or have a delicate texture that would easily absorb chemicals are usually very high on the list. Think celery, lettuce, apples, and summer fruit.

To view the rest of the dirty dozen list or print out a dirty dozen pocket guide, visit the Environmental Working group site:

http://www.foodnews.org/walletguide.php

Tip #2 Learn the Labels
The term "natural" is meaningless. If a box of chocolate cookies has a pretty banner that reads: "Good for You!" would you take the company's word for it or would you check out the nutrition information to see how many fat grams and calories the cookies contained? The same goes for labels for natural or organic products. Some products labeled "natural" are indeed that. But you have to read the labels to be sure. Organic produce will carry a 4-digit PLU code that begins with the number 9. Check for organic certifications(there are others besides the USDA),avoid red-flag ingredients like high-fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated oils, and check out the nutrition information. If the product is organic that doesn't automatically make it healthy. This brings me to the next tip:

Tip #3 Skip the Junk
There are such things as organic cookies, candies, chocolates, pastries, potato chips, ice cream and oh the list goes on. These products may be organic but that does not automatically make them better for you. I repeat: organic junk food is still junk food! Don't waste money on these products thinking that they are better for your family. The organic junk food does have a slight leg up over traditional non-organic junk food because the products usually are made with more natural sugars or sweeteners and more healthy oils. Again, be a label hound and sniff out the bad ingredients. If you're going to buy cookies or chips for your family be sure to eat them in moderation and treat them just as you would non-organic junk food.

Tip #4 Use Coupons
I don't know how many times I've heard someone say "But there aren't any coupons available for healthy products!" That statement is flat out wrong. I challenge you to change your thinking about coupons and I give you permission to ignore anyone who tries to convince you that there are no coupons for healthy items. Coupons can save you a ton of money at the grocery store and allow you to use that money to take a family vacation, pay down debt, or add to your savings account. You absolutely can find good coupons for all sorts of organic and healthy products. If you have a natural market like Whole Foods, Fresh Market, or a local Natural Foods store these are the first places to start. There are at least two different booklets that are put out seasonally that contain a lot of great coupons. One of these is Mambo Sprouts, and the other is called Healthy Clippings. Pick up a few booklets each time you go shopping and look through them to get an idea of what types of products there are coupons available for right now. Many times the products in these types of booklets can also be found at traditional grocery stores.

Another great way to get coupons for organic products is to sign up on company mailing lists. If there is a product that you've tried and liked, tell the company. Many times they will thank you by sending you a few coupons. Many organic companies don't advertise with coupons in the Sunday newspapers but will mail some out to you if you ask. If there is a product you would like to try, go ahead and email the company or contact them through their site to let them know that you are interested in trying out their product. Lots of companies will send you coupons to help you out with your first few purchases.

Also don't forget to check in the stores while you're doing your shopping. You may find coupons directly on the products that you can peel off and use at the register, or you may find a pad of coupons allowing you to tear off a few to use. Even if you won't use the coupon that day most stores don't mind if you take a few. Keep them with your booklets and try to use the coupons in combination with a sale or promotion to maximize your savings.

If you have a computer and printer be sure to check out the printable coupons available for organic products. Health E-Saversis one company that consistently provides good organic coupons. Some stores don't take printed coupons so be sure to check the specifications before you use any of your ink.

Lastly, check the newspaper. Sometimes you will find coupons for organic products available in the Sunday paper. Muir Glen organic and Cascadian Farms are two companies that advertise regularly in the Sunday paper. If your friends and family aren't organic shoppers, check with them and see if you can have the organic coupons from their newspaper. Chances are that they will be more than willing to give you their organic coupons. Don't forget that just because you may not use a coupon doesn't mean that one of your friends, coworkers, or family members won't either. Some of the best coupons I've received have been passed on to me by friends and family members who didn't buy those products.

Tip #5 Pay Attention to Supermarket Promotions
Many supermarkets have double or triple coupon events. What is a double or triple coupon, you ask? It's simple. A double coupon is when the supermarket doubles the face value of the coupon, so a coupon for 50 cents would be worth one dollar. A triple coupon is when the supermarket triples the face value of the coupon. So a 75 cent coupon would be worth $2.25. That's a huge increase! Double or triple coupon events are some of the best times to check for deals on organic products. I usually get some great prices on non-perishables like soups, stocks and cereals. Be sure to check for any fine print details with your stores special savings events. Many times there are limits on how many coupons you may have doubled or tripled, or there are dollar amount restrictions. Another supermarket promotion to keep a look out for is the type of deals where you buy a certain amount of products to receive a gift card or coupon for money off your next order. These promotions are great because again, you can stock up on non-perishable or pantry items. Don't forget to try and use coupons for the items you purchase to help maximize your savings. Every year around Earth Day you will start to see lots of sales on natural and organic items. This is another great time to take advantage of the great deals and stock up.

Tip #6 Scour the Sales Ads
More and more traditional supermarkets are carrying natural and organic products on their shelves. A lot of times these items go on sale or have special promotions but the information can be hard to find when looking through the sales ads. Check for special prices on organic products on the produce page- many times there will be a small section set aside detailing what natural items are on sale. Sometimes you can find similar sections in the dairy sections of the ad as well as the meat sections on the ad. Check the ads to see what items are on sale. If you have a coupon for the item and it's on sale that week, it's likely a good time to buy.

Tip #7 Buy Reusable Shopping Bags (And Use Them!)
This is a new trend that's popping up all over and unlike most trends, it's here to stay. For about a dollar, you can buy a reusable canvas grocery tote at more and more stores. It's a great investment because most places will give you a refund for using your bags instead of theirs. A local natural market will refund me 10 cents for every canvas bag I use when I purchase my groceries. My bags have already paid for themselves and I'm still saving money on my bill each week. Most stores will refund you five or ten cents for each bag you use. If you don't want to invest a few dollars in reusable bags and have canvas bags at home already, use those! Most stores don't care where you purchased the bags, only that you didn't use their plastic ones. This may not seem related to buying organics, but it is. It's a way to help out the environment by reducing petrol pollutants released during the manufacturing of these bags. And it's also a way to guarantee that you're saving some pocket change each and every time you go to the store, no matter what you buy.

Tip #8 Grow Your Own
One of the best ways to ensure your food is free of pesticides and harmful chemicals is to grow it yourself. Major retailers like Lowe's and Home Depot have made many organic planting options available if you don't have a local nursery that you can buy organic products from. If you have a lot of space for a large garden plot, you should consider starting from seeds as it's the cheapest way to start a garden. Composting can help you fertilize your soil and make it rich in nutrients without using chemical fertilizers. If you have a smaller yard or no yard at all you might consider container gardening. For a container garden it might be best to buy organic plants to transplant as the seed process can be a little rough with containers. You can fill the containers with organic potting soil (Miracle grow has a great new line of organic soil products) and then easily transplant the plants into your containers. I've done this for a few years now and I've been able to grow different varieties of heirloom tomatoes (they go for about $5.99/lb in the grocery stores), green beans, peppers, and various herbs. It's nice knowing exactly where my produce has grown and that I haven't treated it with anything that I wouldn't want in my body. The money I've saved by growing my own produce in the Summer can be put towards other things. If you're a canner you can easily put up food from your garden to last you through the Winter months and into the next growing season.

Tip #9 Buy Local
Explore farm stands, local shops, and farmers' markets to see what products are available that are made in your town or region. Many times you can get great deals on local honey, produce, meat, and dairy because you are buying it directly from the source. By cutting out the middle man you are eliminating transportation costs, heavy packaging costs, and getting the freshest, most healthy products. Buying local also means that you know where your food is grown. Many times local farms, ranches, or dairies aren't certified as organic sellers but still use organic practices. It can be expensive for a small operation to be certified organic and this is why many choose not to. When you buy local, ask about where your food came from and what practices they use. It's a great way to buy organic foods without paying the organic premium.

Tip #10 Eat in Season
When you eat in season you are ensuring that you are getting the freshest, most healthy food. Not only that, you're likely not paying a premium on that food to have it shipped from somewhere that is in season because you'll be buying locally produced items. Food is at it's cheapest when it's most plentiful. You may have to forgo the organic strawberries in February, but you'll be saving a lot of money by buying what's available instead. A great way to ensure you are eating in season also goes along with buying local foods- join a food co-op or CSA.

Tip #11 Join a Co-Op or CSA
A food co-op or community supported agriculture (CSA) are great options for buying organic. For anyone who isn't familiar with co-ops or CSAs they are essentially farms or stores that are supported by a group. Most places require an annual fee or membership dues, but some co-ops are set up that you can trade work hours for products. Some co-ops are just like regular stores where you can go in and shop for goods at reduced prices similar to shopping at a warehouse market or club store, whereas others are set up that you get a share of whatever that weeks harvest is. To locate a food co-op or CSA in your area, you can do a search on the Local Harvest site or Co-Op directory. Both links are provided below.

http://www.localharvest.org/

http://www.coopdirectory.org/

Tip #12 Shop Online or at Club Stores
Although it may be contrary to the advice just provided, online shopping or at bulk stores is another great way to save money on organic products. Places like Costco carry lots of organic options ranging from produce, eggs and other dairy, to organic certified health and beauty products. If you aren't sure what options are available in your club store, ask for a free pass at the membership desk so that you can look around. Another option is buying in bulk, but doing it online. Online shops such as Amazon.com actually carry organic groceries. By buying items by the case you can save substantially.

Tip #13 Buy from Bulk Bins
Bulk bins are your friend and you should purchase things from them. Here's the thing about bulk bins- you aren't paying for packaging. I buy organic popcorn kernels, rice blends, sugar, dry beans, grains, granola and spices- all organic- from bulk bins at my natural foods market. You will need to utilize your own containers, canisters and jars to store these products but you will save in the long run. You don't necessarily need to go out and buy containers. Look at the products you've got in your home now and see where you can reuse containers. Glass sauce jars make great canisters for things like beans and grains. Baby food jars or smaller jam jars can be re purposed to hold spices. And remember, just because you are buying from bulk bins doesn't mean you need to buy that item in bulk. If you need a teaspoon of an exotic spice for a recipe but won't use it any other time just buy the amount needed. This saves you from having unwanted and unnecessary food products around but gives you the flexibility to have access to items you need.

Tip #14 Experiment with Different Proteins
Let's face it- meat is expensive. Organic meat is even more expensive. And while I'm not suggesting that you cut meat out of your diet completely, I am suggesting that you look at different options for getting protein in your diet. Beans and other legumes are great sources of protein and are a fraction of the cost of organic meat. If you are making a chili, consider making it a vegetarian bean chili. If you don't want to cut out the meat completely, then consider cutting back or using a different option. Instead of a ground beef chili, consider an organic ground turkey. It's lower in fat and calories and it's usually a little cheaper than organic beef. If you've got to have the beef, use half the amount and add extra beans. This allows you to shave dollars off of your weekly grocery bill. Consider trying tofu in a stir fry instead of going for the usual chicken tenderloins. Not all tofu is soggy and flavorless. A good, firm tofu with the correct seasons can easily replace chicken in most stir-fry recipes.

Tip #15 Experiment with Other Cuisines
A lot of people get tired with repetitive dishes. I know I do, and when I'm tired of eating the same old thing I'm likely to blow my weekly grocery budget by buying something else that's not on sale. One tip I've adopted is to try different cuisines. Lets say chicken drumsticks are on sale but the only thing you know how to make with drumsticks is barbecued chicken. Consider a Moroccan chicken cooked in a parchment packet- with ginger, carrots, raisins, onions and a spicy chicken drumstick, served over couscous. A far cry from barbecued chicken, don't you think? Or perhaps a beef roast. Instead of using the typical onion-soup mix and root vegetables, try making Ropa Vieja- a traditional Cuban dish that has shredded beef, onions and peppers in a tangy sauce- served with black beans and rice. Got lots of veggies? Instead of doing a steamed vegetable side or stir-fry, try out a vegetable curry recipe and serve it with flatbread. By expanding your culinary horizons to include other cuisines you can easily use whatever organic products are on sale that week to create unique meals that you won't grow tired of.

Links and Resources
Hopefully you're inspired, and not overwhelmed by all of the information provided here. It's a lot to digest (pun intended) but starting small can make the biggest difference. If you're interested in adopting an organic lifestyle the links below will help you with understanding the ins and outs of organic living. One of the links, Organic Grocery Deals, is an online community where you'll find like-minded organic shoppers- everyday people just trying to live a healthier lifestyle and balancing that within the constraints of a budget.

Info on the Dirty Dozen:
http://www.foodnews.org/walletguide.php

Info about locating a CSA/Co-Op in your area:
http://www.localharvest.org
http://www.coopdirectory.org

World-Wide database of Organic Certifiers:
http://tiny.cc/VWcGb

Online Communities:
http://www.organicgrocerydeals.com

Printable Organic Coupons:
http://www.healthesavers.com/HealthESavers/Coupons.aspx