In the U.S., most organic grocery store products can cost up to 20% more than regular grocery store products. For example, if a can of tuna costs $1 at a regular grocery store, it could cost $1.20 at an organic grocery store. Because of the price difference, many consumers shy away from purchasing organic foods and groceries. However, I believe that if the right items are purchased, paying a little extra can go a long way as the benefits can far outweigh the costs.

Even though organic grocery stores have a wide variety of products, it doesn’t mean that every single one of them has to be bought. From vegetables to tortilla chips, I believe it’s important to buy products that specifically cater to one’s needs. By this, I mean that it’s a game of picking and choosing what products to buy and where. Not all grocery shopping has to be done at organic grocery stores, but customers can be smart about what they pick to buy. For example, regular lettuce and organic lettuce are identical to me. Organic lettuce doesn’t taste any better, nor does it have any special health benefits. Since all lettuce is the same, it wouldn’t make sense to spend extra money on organic lettuce, so I wouldn’t reach for it at organic grocery stores. Instead, I would purchase it at regular grocery stores, where a cheaper cost would result in the same product. 

However, some products aren’t created equally in organic and regular grocery stores. Now, these are the types of produce worth spending money on. According to the EWG Science Team, produce that remains at the top of the list to buy organically includes strawberries, spinach, kale, collards, and mustard greens. These products are among the top-ranked fruits and vegetables to buy. They contain a lot of pesticides when grown regularly, which can be avoided if customers take the organic route.

According to Lawrence Robinson, Jeanne Segal, and Robert Segal, “the use of toxic herbicides like Roundup (glyphosate) has increased 15 times since GMOs were introduced. This is huge, since buying organic strawberries would mean no more of those pesticides.” 

The EWG Science Team supports this, as it commented, “a fungicide that can change hormone levels and [can cause cancer] was detected on nearly 90 percent of citrus samples tested by EWG in 2020.”

On the other hand, buying a snack bar that contains 50% less sugar than ones traditionally sold at a Vons or Costco would make more sense. This product has value to it since it’s hard to find at other places, and suits the needs of a yummy snack on the go. It’s special and unique to the store, and it couldn’t be found anywhere else. Snacks that are worth the value and are unique to organic grocery stores are generally worth it to buy. Many snacks sold in grocery stores are nutritious, and paying just a little more to get a much higher quality product would be a win-win for both the store and the customer. It’s a simple way to pay a little extra in exchange for a lot more.

Additionally, organic grocery stores are worthwhile because of the health benefits that they carry. According to Lawrence Robinson, Jeanne Segal, and Robert Segal, conventionally grown produce can be grown with synthetic or chemical fertilizers, synthetic pesticides,and herbicides. Livestock is also given growth hormones, GMO feed, antibiotics, medication, and fed animal byproducts. 

Not only this, but according to the EWG Science Team, many crops like pepper contain chemicals that are hard to even pronounce like acephate chlorpyrifos, which can harm a child’s developing brain. In order to get rid of the hassle and worry about what’s going into your body, shopping for the right product is the way to go. 

Shopping at an organic store also reduces stress due to the trust that stores build with customers. At an organic grocery store, I know that the products in front of me are generally very healthy, and contain less sugar and processed ingredients. I don’t have to search for labels on every product, looking for sugar content in the ‘Nutrition Facts’ label on the back. Instead, I’m able to shop freely and get rid of any second thoughts on if a product is relatively healthy or not. Organic shopping is a much more conscientious way to shop. It can turn your average ‘picking up groceries on a weekend’ into a de-stressing and fun activity to look forward to.

Organic grocery stores are more than just a store where prices are raised. Prices are raised for a reason, like how strawberries and spinach are produced organically, but it all comes down to the consumer to make smart decisions about what to purchase. Organic grocery stores provide many benefits and authentic products that are hard to replicate anywhere else.