Why does organically grown food cost more?
Sometimes organic prices are higher simply because of supply and demand. As more farms turn to organic techniques prices should stabilize. Farmers frequently face added expense during the “transitional” period. Experience has shown that it can take up to ten years for land to regain its natural balances. During this withdrawal period lower than normal yields are common. Organic farming is more labour and management intensive than conventional farming. It’s also true that you get what you pay for. When you buy “certified organically-grown” food you are casting your vote for a whole food system and receiving higher quality food untainted by unnecessary toxic residues. When one thinks of the potential savings in clean-up costs of toxic spills from many of these farming chemicals, not to mention the decrease in health care costs which could result from an increase in the consumption of healthier untainted foods, the higher cost seems well justified.
