Sustainable Food Teach-Out
Go Organic
4 minutes
Depending on your current practices, this may be a big change. If you’re willing to take some steps toward organic food purchasing, think about where you can start. Can you buy produce for one week that’s organic and see how it goes? Can you buy all organic greens for the month? Pick an item or type of purchase you make often and a time period you’re willing to try and move on from there. Every little change helps!
Even if you’re ready to go organic, it isn’t always a straightforward purchase. Here are some tips:
Look for labels: in the US, there is a mark on products that are certified as organic by the USDA. This is one way to choose organic products, especially at a grocery store.
Check the code or signs: If you’re buying produce, there may not be a USDA seal available. Often larger grocery stores have an organic section that can help you find the items you’re looking for. You may also see that organic products at your stores have a PLU (the little sticker numbers on produce) that begin with the number 9.
Ask for advice: It can be expensive for farmers to achieve an organic status from the USDA even if they’re using largely organic practices. Ask around at your food sources about if they consider their products to have the same environmental benefits as certified organic items.
Know what’s marketing: There are a lot of products out there today that look like they should be organic or environmentally friendly, but really are just a standard product with a green label that nature-inspired logo. If you’re not sure, double check labels and give it a search on your phone before buying.