Here is a seemingly simple question: Is it true that organic products cost more than their conventional counterparts?
The answer, however, is less simple. If the question addresses retail price, the answer is generally “Yes,” although it could be “No.” If it is in terms of real costs, the answer is “No.” And, value? That is another, more important, question. Prices for organic foods reflect many of the same cost factors as non-organic items in terms of growing and harvesting. However, these factors are generally higher for organically produced goods.
See: Organic lemon juice, Organic prune juice
There are numerous reasons why. For example, organic farmers must meet stricter regulations governing all of these steps, so the process is often more labor- and management-intensive. Because organic farmers do not use persistent or toxic pesticides, more labor is needed to deal with weeds in the field.
The biggest factor, however, is that conventional production is priced too cheaply. Conventional producers are going out of business. Farmers need to have a fair price to survive. Organic farmers need to price their products so that they can make a fair living from their work and investment. Consumers have been kept in the dark as to the real cost of growing food conventionally, and how harmful this system is to farmers, both environmentally and financially.
There is mounting evidence that if all the indirect costs of conventional food production-cleanup of polluted water, replacement of eroded soils, costs of health care for farmers and their workers-were factored into the price of food, organic foods would cost the same or, more likely, be cheaper.
Meanwhile, the benefits of organic products include improving environmental health, from building the soil and lessening or eliminating chemical inputs, to fostering natural habitats and promoting biodiversity.
We are often taught that we can get anything we want, and at the cheapest price possible. However, we often do not realize the true cost of our decisions. We need to consider the value of the food we eat.
Be willing to pay a fair price for organic food, a price that reflects the real cost of growing nutritious food in a sustainable way and provides a viable living for organic farmers.
