Organic Food Buying Tips

You may have a lot more choices for organic food in your community than you realize. All it takes is a little research to find out.

Organic associations and organizations in your state are good places to start. Just type the name of your state and the word "organic" into a search engine and see what pops up. They're chock-full of links and information on organic foods and they allow you to search for organic food sources in your local area.

Farmers' markets are great sources of fresh local produce. A just-picked tomato from a local farm tastes a lot better than a tomato that's traveled thousands of miles before reaching a supermarket shelf. It's going to be cheaper and fresher at a farmers' market. If you don't see a sign saying the produce is organic, be sure to ask. Some farmers may be making the transition to organic farming.

The key to landing good deals at farmers' markets is to ask lots of questions. Ask about seconds - perfectly tasty but misshapen produce that you may be able to buy at a discount. Ask about discounts for buying in bulk.

Ask how you can buy their produce when the market is closed. Always ask what tastes the best. They know. They'll tell you.

This is one good way to get fresh, new crops and meats if such program is available in your area. When you buy a share in a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program, you pay a portion of a local farm's operating expenses. In return, you receive weekly boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables in the upcoming harvest.

You can't get it any fresher. You're getting it straight from the farm, sometimes picked that morning. It's usually organic and it's much more delicious because it's so fresh. And you're supporting local farms.

A food cooperative is a member-owned business that provides groceries and other products to its members at a discount. Many of the products lining the shelves of co-ops are organic and much of the produce comes from local family farms.

Joining a co-op is often as easy as signing up and paying some dues. Co-op members that volunteer to work may get additional discounts on any products they buy.

A buying club is a great way to get the organic food you want on the cheap. In a buying club, you may be able to get quite a good percentage off the retail price. Buying-club members purchase food and other organic products in bulk and then split the stash.

Ask a co-op near you about starting a buying club with your friends and neighbors. Some co-op grocers will let you order right from their store. Ask a local natural food store where they get their stuff and then contact the distributor directly.

Whether you're shopping at a natural foods store, supermarket or co-op, buying in bulk is a great way to stretch your food dollar. For beans, grains, lentils and nuts, head straight for the bulk containers. Just make sure you have a cool, dry place in your kitchen to store your dry goods for a few months. You can save on storage space by splitting your stash with a friend.

Be sure to bring your calculator along on any bulk shopping run. Not every item you can buy in bulk is worth the bother. Do the math.

The absolute best time to buy an organic fruit or vegetable is at the peak of its growing season. As the season progresses, there's more produced and the price has a tendency to shift downward, sometimes dramatically. It's the best time to buy and that's the best time to buy big. Load up on all your favorite organic fruits and veggies at dirt-cheap prices.

When the weather turns, turn to preserved foods. In the winter, steer clear of high-priced, in-store produce and buy canned, frozen or dried organic fruits and vegetables instead. Don't be afraid to use preserved foods during cold months. The prices are usually better. The flavor is often better. Buy frozen organic peas, corn, peaches and berries all winter long.

Some people don't touch a tomato from November to the beginning of July, instead they use canned. Using frozen berries, peas, or corn, for example, in the middle of winter are way better than what's been shipped and has no flavor.

Your freezer is good for more than TV dinners and frozen pizzas. Just haggled a great deal on a whole bunch of organic fruits and vegetables? Freeze your luscious leftovers and pull them out as treats during the winter.

Buy it and freeze it. It's a very economical way of having those products at a reasonable price year-round. It's best to eat organic fruits and vegetables that you freeze on your own within six months.

Grab store discount fliers at every opportunity. When an organic food you like is marked down, stock up for less. Shop the house brands. Any food with the word "organic" on its label has to go through the same certification process regardless of its brand name.

Snatch up all the coupons for organic food that you can find. Check store fliers, the newspaper and even the inside of food packages. And don't forget to look online.

Keep in mind that not all retail stores accept online coupons. Before printing out a bunch of online coupons, you may want to make sure you can use the e-coupons at a grocer near you.

If you're really serious about garden-fresh organic produce, why not plant your own?
Seeds can easily be found at many outlets these days, or you can look up the internet to find the best supplier in your area.

Start small. Carrots, radishes and beets are easy to grow. Start slow; just do a few things at a time.

Can't find a local source for the organic food you want? Don't give up. Search the internet. You may be able to order the organic foods that you want online. There are a lot of offerings online that will send you what you want.

There may be no single source for the organic foods you want at the prices you can afford. Be creative. Join a co-op and shop at a local farmers' market. Buy a share in a CSA program, join a buying club and shop the organic section at a conventional supermarket. Shop sales at a natural foods store, plant a garden and order organic food online.

Ask your favorite organic restaurant or juice bar where they get their food. They may direct you to their distributor or let you piggyback off some of their orders.

To nab the best deals on organic foods you need to be a focused, yet flexible, shopper. Always shop with a list but never be afraid to snap up a good bargain when you see one.

Write "three vegetables" on your shopping list and then look around at store specials. Do the same for proteins and grains. Use store discount fliers when planning your weekly menus. More mindful shopping can save you money. Never ever buy an item that you don't need just because it's on sale or you have a coupon

Free up more dollars for organic food by trimming the fat from your conventional food budget. Add up all the dollars you spend every month on food, including fast food meals, morning cups of coffee, bagels and even trips to vending machines.

A small change in your eating habits could free up the money you need to buy the organic foods that you really want

Begin the transition to organic eating with some of your favorite foods. Pick a product or two that you decide you really notice a difference in taste and that really excites you.

Families with young children may want to start by buying organic baby food and dairy products. Whatever your kids eat the most of is where you start. If you're concerned about pesticides, you may want to substitute organic foods for conventional foods with the highest levels of pesticide residues. These include apples, apricots, peaches, pears, red raspberries, strawberries, spinach, peppers, celery and potatoes.

Interested in cooking delicious, highly nutritious organic meals? It's easier than you think! Find out how fun and easy it is to prepare:

• 17 organic breakfast food recipes - They not only taste great...but they'll get your day started off healthy and on the right foot!
  
  
• 4 organic bread recipes! These organic bread recipes make carbs healthy again!
  
  
• 12 salivating soups and salad recipes! You can fix these as great starters for dinner...or...as a super-healthy mid-day snack!
  
  
• 11 tasty starters and side dishes: Organic Appetizers and side dishes to go with virtually any meal will turn your ordinary "mealtime" into culinary experiences!
  
  
• 15 mouth-watering main course meals! These organic main course meals PROVE beyond a shadow of a doubt that eating organic isn't just healthy...but is incredibly delicious!
  
  
• 4 delicious dessert dishes! If you have a sweet tooth...then you absolutely must have these luscious organic cheesecake, chocolate, and custard recipes!
  
  
• 5 delectable drinks. These are the healthy, organic substitutes you'll crave on those hot summer days!

Read more about this great guide here.