Not all produce is created equal

In the quest to eat safe, chemical free foods and not break the bank, there are certain considerations to be made when buying organic. The purpose of buying organic for me is to provide my family with pesticide, chemical and hormone free foods. There are several ways that you can accomplish this on a tight grocery budget.

First of all, consider which produce crops use the most pesticides. Any product grown outside the United States that is not organic should not be purchased. Chili, Mexico and some of the other South American countries use highly carcinogenic chemicals on their crops... pesticides that are illegal in this country. Why we allow crops that have known cancer causing pesticides on them into our country is a mystery to me. But, our country does import these foods and they should be avoided.

Secondly, crops that are non-organic and grown in the United States can be purchased safely if you know which ones use fewer harmful chemicals. Bananas, kiwi, avocados, broccoli, cauliflower, mangoes, sweet peas and onions are crops that are generally regarded as safe. On the other hand, apples, peaches, strawberries (very important!), tomatoes, bell peppers, cherries and spinach should always be bought organic. These fruits and vegetables grown traditionally use high levels of pesticides and some of the fruits are known to absorb the pesticides so that washing and peeling can not make them safe to eat. If you know which items you should buy organic, you can save money by purchasing safer produce that is grown the traditional way.

Another great way to save is to grow your own! We are venturing into gardening this season and we know absolutely nothing about it. So, we will be doing a lot of research, consulting a lot of our gardening professional friends (you know who you are!), and learning through a lot of trial and error. Stay tuned for updates on our progress in the garden!

Last but not least, always try to buy your produce in season. Obviously in season foods are less expensive than foods out of season. If possible, join a co-op. I am part of a co-op and I have saved quite a bit of money on my organic produce through this buying program.

Eating foods that are free from harmful chemicals is vitally important to your health and the health of your family. It is a priority for our family. But, it doesn't have to break the bank once you decide which non-organic foods you can safely purchase leaving the majority of your grocery budget for the more important organic purchases. Also, as organic products are becoming more popular, sales on organic grocery items are increasing as are organic produce co-ops. Once you start paying attention to these things, you'll find buying organic an affordable option for the budget conscious family!

Keeper of the Home has a wonderful in depth article on this topic as well as some great articles on natural cleaners, toiletries and cosmetics. You don't want to miss it!

For more great money saving tips, be sure to visit Frugal Friday at Biblical Womanhood!