Paying extra for organic in Twin Cities
I spend a lot of time driving between Whole Foods, Trader Joes, Super Wal-Mart, coops and farmers markets buying organic produce (among other things) and getting what I pay for — expensive prices for food not treated with chemicals. Check out this graph and article from the NYT, “Sticker Shock in the Organic Aisles”
Over all, grocery prices have increased about 5 percent over the last year, though some staples like conventional eggs jumped 30 percent and milk, 13 percent, according to the Consumer Price Index. That government index does not break out prices for organic food.
Organic manufacturers and retailers said prices began increasing last fall but were only now starting to spike significantly in some parts of the country…Organic food is typically 20 percent to 100 percent more expensive than a conventional counterpart; the gap has narrowed in recent years as discount retailers like Wal-Mart have offered organics and more private-label organic products have become available, according to the industry.
As you can see from the charts, Minneapolis is ranking 1st or 2nd in highest price organic staples in the NYT’s informal poll of organic food prices. The article alludes to a drought in the Upper Midwest that may have caused poor yields for some organic crops. It also quotes one organic food eater in Saint Paul (to represent all of us, mind you), who says, “he had quit smoking and cut back on drinking and ’superfluous recreational spending, like going skiing’” in order to keep buying organic.
Well, besides cutting back on smoking and drinking, what’s your solution for buying organic in the most expensive organic market in the country?
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For starters, don’t buy organic at Kowalski’s. You’re paying a double-premium there; shopping at Kowalski’s and buying organic. While I like Kowalski’s, they’re far from the most economical game in town. $3.19 for a pound of pasta? I’m pretty sure the Wedge is at least a buck less, same with eggs. Even lowly Rainbow has organic now, though I haven’t really taken the time to compare prices to the Co-Op. I’d bet they’re similar.
Buying staples in bulk at a Co-Op is almost always going to net you the best deal. And, the people that work there generally get paid a decent wage.
You’d probably save a few bucks on gas and help save the earth if you didn’t "spend a lot of time driving … buying organic produce."
The prices at Kowalski’s are insane. You can get a dozen organic, free-range (sometimes even pastured) eggs for under $3 at any co-op, farmer’s market, and most other supermarkets. Half-gallons of milk are usually not a good deal, but a gallon is around $6 (I pay slightly more for local milk in glass bottles). It’s not a Twin Cities problem, but a Kowalski’s problem.
And I gotta agree with halfbaked! Get yourself a CSA and find a co-op or farmer’s market for the rest and, for the love of all that is holy, stop going to Super Wal-Mart. (Though I admit I go to Trader Joe’s to stock up on things like laundry detergent and nuts and delicious, delicious cheese.)
Great point about Kowalski’s. It’s like generalizing about the international auto industry while only focusing on Mercedes and Ferrari dealers. As for driving around, it’s a necessary evil now that we moved out to the burbs. I sure to miss walking down to the Saint Paul Farmer’s Market when I lived in Galtier. We used to buy milk in those glass jugs, too!
Hey — Just read another article in the NYT (http://is.gd/7ZN) that touches on budget shopping for those who want to purchase organic foods. Essentially, the idea is to pick up fruits/veg that normally soak up more pesticides, to lower your intake.
It links to a chart that lists 43 foods and rates them on their "pesticide load". For instance, peaches would be an ideal pickup if your conscious about avoiding pesticides, but you may as well get non-organic onions and avocados.