by Amber Hilton

Created on: January 01, 2009

Few people would associate shopping for organic goods with saving money on your grocery bill. However, what many people don't realize is that by adopting just a few smart shopping habits you can go organic even if you're on a tight budget!

With the organic food trend becoming increasingly more popular, the selection at most supermarkets are expanding rapidly. And while most everyone can appreciate a large selection, it is true that not all organics are created equal, making shopping for the best deal more confusing and frustrating than ever before.

It is true that many organic products are going to cost more than conventional items regardless of how smart of a shopper you are. However, in many cases the extra cost is worth it. The more difficult part is figuring out which products are truly organic and provide you with the most bang for your buck.

Thankfully, the USDA has taking the guesswork out of organic shopping by creating a seal so that shoppers can tell the difference between what is conventionally grown and what is truly organic. The seal, created in 2002, clearly states whether a product is "USDA Organic" and is being used more and more frequently on everything from fresh produce to pre-packaged crackers and cookies. The label, which can be either black and white or brown and green in color, assures you that the item is at least 95% certified organic. This means that not only will there be no pesticide or chemical exposure, but also that no genetic alterations or radiation treatments have been made. If you're purchasing an animal product, you can rest assured that it comes from an animal that was treated humanely and is free from antibiotics or artificial hormones.

However, you may notice some items without a seal that still claim to be organic. This is because the USDA does allow companies to use the word "organic" on their packaging if only seventy percent of the ingredients actually qualify as such.

In situations where many small items are displayed individually, such as with bins of fresh produce, you may not see a seal or you may not know whether a non-organic item has snuck into the mix. Fortunately, affixed to most organic fruits and vegetables should be a small sticker displaying a five-digit code. The code will always start with the number "9" if the product is certified organic. Genetically engineered fruits and veggies will also have a five-digit code, but it will always start with the number "8". Codes on non-organic produce, on the other hand,

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>