Wash It Yourself & Other Ways to Save Money on Organic Fruits, Veggies

My children appreciate the added flavor in organic fruits, vegetables and dairy products. Unfortunately, organic products, which are grown and packaged without pesticides, artificial coloring or preservatives, are expensive. The following strategies have helped us to purchase organic products while staying on a tight budget.

• Follow the loss leaders. Grocery stores and specialty chains typically offer several heavily discounted items each week. These promotional items are called loss leaders because stores are willing to take a financial hit on them in order to bring consumers into the store. Stock up on sale items in the organic section and build menus around them.

• Stay local. In-season and locally produced fruits and vegetables are usually cheaper than out-of-season items that have been imported.

• Wash it yourself. We pay a premium for veggies that are already washed, peeled or cut. When time allows, I save money with do-it-yourself washing, peeling and chopping of fruits and veggies. The savings are significant.

• Hit the freezer. I love organic blueberries, but when the out-of-season price spikes to $6.99 for six ounces, I go to the freezer aisle. That's where I pick up a 10-ounce package of organic berries for about $4. The freezer section offers a variety of frozen organic fruits at reasonable prices. Frozen fruits are great for snacking or baking.

• Join an organic co-op. Before we let our membership lag, we were part of an organic food co-op in our neighborhood for over a year. We have since joined another group and are pleased with the savings. Our produce bill has dropped by 30 percent due to the co-op, which purchases fruits and vegetables in bulk from local, organic farmers.
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Sharon is the author of the Frugal Duchess: How to Live Well and Save Money -- a coming of age memoir about money -- and a contributing writer in Wise Bread's 10,0001 Ways to Live Large on a Small Budget.

Tomatoes & Celery Taught Me How To Save More Money

An assortment of organic vegetables taught me how to pay myself first. Thursday was payday, and I treated myself to a pint of organic cherry tomatoes, a small container of humus dip and celery -- all sale items. I added a handful of round crackers to the mix.

My lunch plate was inviting with the bright red tomatoes, the green stalks and the pale blond humus. But the bland white crackers caught my eye. I love carbs and I reached for a handful.

And like a public announcement for the food pyramid, my hand paused over the carbs. As a carb-loving woman, I knew that I was going to get my fix of wheat, sugar and salt. And then, after I was stuffed with crackers, I would eat the veggies with whatever appetite was left. And if I didn't finish off the veggies, I could save them for a snack.

I almost swallowed that carb-filled lie. But I knew -- for me -- carbs are like discretionary spending and veggies are like savings goals. And I knew that with a carb-driven rush of energy, I would speed through the afternoon without taking time for a late afternoon snack of organic veggies. So much for good intentions.

So I ate all of the veggies first, and then I dipped the crackers into the humus. After lunch, I went to the cash machine and checked my bank balance, which was flush from an after-payday, pre-bill paying rush of cash. I hit the transfer button and moved some money from checking into the savings account. That way, I paid myself first and saved my carbed-out binge for later or never.

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I Found Money in Vanilla Yogurt

Peeling back the foil lid of a yogurt container, I found 50 cents. Of course, there were no coins floating in the yogurt like blueberries. But a 50-cent-off coupon was imprinted on the label. Lesson: It pays to read the fine print. Some manufacturers are spending more marketing dollars on direct-to-consumer promotions, which means that coupons and other discounts are directly tattooed on to the product.

That strategy has prompted me to pay more attention to packaging and labels. And I have been rewarded. Here's a sample of the information and promotions that I have found bundled into containers of my favorite organic yogurt brand:

• Cooking Lessons: I found a recipe for strawberry muffins on one label.


• Green Tip: Buying a 32-ounce container of yogurt involves less packaging/less waste than purchasing five containers of 6-ounce yogurt. In fact, on a penny-per-ounce basis, buying the larger container is like getting one extra serving free of the smaller container. That green and thrifty tip was printed on the large yogurt tub.


• Free Magazines: By purchasing and saving four foil yogurt lids from 32-oz containers, I could have qualified for a free subscription to one of my favorite magazines. I purchased the required amount; washed off the labels and saved them in a desk drawer. And then my organization skills stalled. The postmark deadline came and went. The foil lids are still in my desk drawer. Maybe I'll use them to create an origami sculpture.

Meanwhile, I saved over $1 on my most recent yogurt purchase: The large tub was on sale for $3.00 (down from $3.79). I redeemed the 50-cent-off coupon, and I received a 10-cent rebate because I had my own re-usable shopping bag.

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Why Organic Blueberries Make Me Feel Rich

It's a daily routine that gives my thrifty lifestyle a boost. I have a rich breakfast of organic blueberries with vanilla yogurt spiced with walnuts, almonds and flaxseeds.

That breakfast delivers a shot of vitamins and wealth.Here's why eating organic blueberries makes me feel rich:

• The Luxury Factor: Even on sale, the purchase of organic blueberries feels like a treat. It's a luxurious investment in my health. (Blueberries are a vitamin-packed snack.) This splurge boosts my health and my wallet. Pampering myself with blueberries makes it less likely for me to splurge on larger expenses. Fueled by inner wealth (and a good breakfast), I'm less likely to spend money in a poverty-driven binge of emotional spending.

• The Health Kick: Due to the health benefits of organic blueberries, my fruit-and-nut filled breakfast feels like an investment in my long-term health. My logic: Money spent on preventive health today should (G-d willing) translate into reduced medical costs in the future.

• The Dental Bite: Blueberries are as sweet and tart as my favorite candies, but are less harmful to my teeth. Healthy living and better oral hygiene will save money in the long run.

• Sweet Dreams: Something about a pint of blueberries makes me smile. I open the plastic, wash off the fruit and instantly feel better. Of course, blueberries are not a cure-all, but the berries remind me that I don't need a lot to be happy because small things -- tiny berries -- really count.

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Cameron Diaz Shops for Lemons: Squeezing Money from Fruits

Shopping for limes and lemons tops the to-do list for actress Cameron Diaz in this recent photo from People magazine. But what's the best way to shop for produce? Dumb Little Man posted shopping for produce tips, with a helpful link.

I prefer organic fruits and veggies. LocalHarvest.org provides links and information about buying organic produce directly from small farms and co-ops in your market. I used this resource to find an organic food co-op in my area.

Foodnews.org has a shopping guide for produce. On that shopping list, the following items have the highest level of pesticides and therefore, it is best to buy those items organic:

"The Dirty Dozen"

Peaches
Apples
Sweet Bell Peppers
Celery
Nectarines
Strawberries
Cherries
Pears
Grapes - Imported
Spinach
Lettuce
Potatoes

Peaches and apples topped the Dirty Dozen list. Almost 97 percent of peaches
tested positive for pesticides, and almost 87 percent had two or more
pesticide residues. About 92 percent of apples tested positive, and 79
percent had two or more pesticides. The rest of the Dirty Dozen include
sweet bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, pears,
imported grapes, spinach, lettuce, and potatoes. --Foodnews.org

Citrus products -- oranges, grapefruits and tangerines--were in the middle of the pack in terms of pesticide residue.

These items have the lowest level of pesticides and it is relatively safe to buy non-organic produce from this list:

"Consistently Clean"
Papaya
Broccoli
Cabbage
Bananas
Kiwi
Sweet peas - frozen
Asparagus
Mango
Pineapples
Sweet Corn - frozen
Avocado
Onions (lowest level of pesticides)

Onions, avocados, and sweet corn headed the Consistently Clean list. For all
three foods, more than 90 percent of the samples tested had no detectable
pesticide residues. Others on the Consistently Clean list include pineapples,
mango, asparagus, sweet peas, kiwi, bananas, cabbage, broccoli, and papaya.

--Foodnews.org

Washing fruit and veggies is also important. There is a frugal alternative to fancy fruit wash products, said Consumer Reports, which noted that plain old dish soap works well for cleaning fruits and veggies. I've tried diluted dish soap and it works great for cleaning fruits and veggies. I also rinse my produce with a big of vinegar to kill germs. wikiHow has an informative guide about washing fruits and veggies.
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Organic Food Discounts & Cooking Guides

My week-long splurge of organic food articles ends with this post about the current sale at Wild Oats, which has wide aisles of organic produce and packaged foods. Select items are buy-one-get-one free. The latest sale lasts through March 27.

Wild Oats is also having a special one-day sale on organic and natural food tomorrow: Friday, March 16.


This link leads to a store-by-store locator and specials at the different outlets. Plug in a zip code to get a list of sales at Wild Oats stores within that region.

Both Wild Oats and Whole Foods stores have excellent how-to cook sections on their web sites. For example, Whole Foods offers a great series called: Meals for 4 Under $15, which includes step-by-step cooking instructions. Wild Oats has also an online cooking guide. I recommend the Quick & Easy Recipes.
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Frugal Priorities on the Organic Food Chain: What's Best to Buy Organic

I've been writing about my organic food club over the last week. My Two Dollars has also posted an excellent item about the health value of organic food.

But if you don't have the funds for organic produce, Consumer Reports has an excellent guide that will help you set money-saving priorities by offering tips about what's best to buy organic and what's okay to get from the standard (non-organic) produce section. The guide also provides links to other organic food sources, including tips for getting organic food for less and information about pesticides on fruits and veggies.

Here are items that are best to buy organic:

"Apples, bell peppers, celery, cherries, imported grapes,nectarines, peaches, pears, potatoes, red raspberries, spinach, and
strawberries.

Why: The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s own lab testing
reveals that even after washing, some fruits and vegetables consistently carry
much higher levels of pesticide residue than others.

Based on an analysis of more than 100,000 U.S. government pesticide test results, researchers at the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a research and advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C., have developed the “dirty dozen” fruits and vegetables, above, that they say you should always buy organic if possible because their conventionally grown counterparts tend to be laden with pesticides. Among fruits, nectarines had the highest percentage testing positive for pesticide residue.

Peaches and red raspberries had the most pesticides (nine) on a single sample. Among vegetables, celery and spinach most often carried pesticides, with spinach having the highest number (10) on a single sample --Consumer Reports

It's also best to buy baby food, meat, milk and eggs from organic sources, according to Consumer Reports. In contrast, it's less of a priority to shop organically for these items:

Asparagus, avocados, bananas, broccoli, cauliflower,
sweet corn, kiwi, mangoes, onions, papaya, pineapples, and sweet peas.

Why:Multiple pesticide residues are, in general, rarely found on conventionally grown versions of these fruits and vegetables, according to research by the EWG.

Meanwhile, tonight we will receive our bi-weekly shipment of organic food. We share pick-up duties with a neighbor. This arrangement saves gas since we only have to do pickup duties once a month.




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Beyond Cash: Other Perks of My Organic Buying Club: Recipes for Old Bananas & More!

In my last post, I wrote about the food co-op that we use to buy organic fruits and vegetables for at least 20 percent less than retail stores. We save lots of money and eat well.

But beyond the money-saving benefits, there are a lot of other perks to our buying co-op. Today, I feature a few of those benefits. On Monday, I will post a list of items that are best to buy organic and those that are less of a priority (okay to buy non-organic.)

In addition to the cash savings and the access to tastier/healtheir fruits & veggies, there are other perks of membership:

1. Discovery of new fruits/veggies: Our tote bags often include unusual fruits or veggies. As a result, we stretch our taste buds. My family has sampled different kinds of squashes, purple carrots, white carrots and exotic fruits. We have tasted items that would have never made it into our shopping cart but have since become family favorites.

2. Re-discovery of old standards. Our menu includes plain old vegetables that we have added back into our diet because they have been in our sack of organic veggies. Our meals include beets, red potatoes and other basics that were too boring for us in the past.

3. Commraderie: My husband and I feel a real sense of community with other members of our food buying club. We've formed new ties and strengthened existing relationships. When we pick up our sacks of bi-weekly shipments, we check in on each other.

4. Exchange of information/recipes: When faced with an unusual vegetable or fruit, members are quick to offer recipes and cooking insights. We've gained information about preparing squash, kale and other goodies.

For example, here is the recipe our group leader sent us for bananas.

Banana Sorbet – Quick Easy and Delicious!

When your bananas start to speckle brown, peel and freeze in Zips or containers. This recipe will allow you to utilize any surplus bananas on hand when ever you want a healty treat.

Frozen Bananas
Fresh Lemon
Dash of Cinnamon

Pulse Process bananas in a food processor. Add a tablespoon or two of fresh lemon juice and a dash of cinnamon just to add some extra zip. Process till smooth to soft serve consistency. Serve in dessert cups with a sprig of mint.

--Jayne Rosenbaum, Organic Produce Buying Club of South Florida

There are organic buying clubs around the country. My earlier post includes national links and a link to a tip sheet about buying organic foods on a frugal budget.

Here's a short description of how our organic food club works:

ORGANIC PRODUCE BUYING CLUB OF SOUTH FLORIDA www.jayroseorganics.com

Bi-Weekly, pre-paid Mixed Variety Share: $43.00. 2 large totes filled. 25–35 lbs. fruits, veggies and greens. Shares change according to market, season and availability. We take a strong stand on purchasing from only responsible,sustainable farms as well as a commitment to purchase from the State of Florida,when the season permits and from within the United States. Local area groups meet through out the State of Florida. Always Fresh. Always Certified. Always Priced Below Retail. Free Produce …(also available).

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How I Save Money in an Organic Food Co-op

For last several months, I've been a member of an organic food club. As part of the club, I buy organic produce for about 20 percent below retail prices and the discount is even higher during peak harvest periods, according to our club organizer: Jayne Rosenbaum of the Organic Produce Buying Club of South Florida. www.jayroseorganics.com (305-868-2136)

A fellow club member crunched the numbers and confirmed that we are saving money through the organic food club. While sitting in the carpool lane for our kids, I reviewed her calculations and agreed that we really are saving. There are other benefits, which I will write about on Sunday.

Our club is regional, but there are organic buying clubs are over the country. Check out localharvest.org to find a buying club near you. That site has links to other non-profit and government sources about organic food.

"The best organic food is what's grown closest to you. Use our website to find farmers' markets, family farms, and other sources of sustainably grown food in your area, where you can buy produce, grass-fed meats, and many other goodies." -- Local Harvest

The co-op in my neighborhood works like this:

1. We pay a $42 fee every two weeks. That fee represents our share in the co-op. Members that help with the distribution, bagging and weighing of vegetables/produce receive extra food or additional perks.

2. Our membership share entitles us to a bi-weekly shipment of two grocery bags full of fruits and veggies. We can purchase other items as needed.

3. We pick up the organic produce from a designated location (a community building or the home of a hosting member.) The pick-up site is convenient, typically within a five-minute drive from our home, which roughly equals our commute to the grocery store.

4. Our produce is bagged in cloth canvas bags that are re-used from week to week. We bring in one set of empty canvas bags and receive another set that is fully stocked. When we forget our bags, plastic is used, but this substitution is not encouraged.

The produce is packed with flavor. My children love the organic fruit and I have to force them to save fruit for others. Even naysayers who mock our organic shopping efforts, concede that the food tastes better. I should take and post before-and-after taste-test expressions.

During one dinner party, I served mini plums from the organic club. Our guests loved the plums and as a gift, we sent them home with the entire bag.

There are other ways to save money while buying organic produce. Here are a few tips that I posted based on an interview with Craig Minowa, an environmental scientist with the Organic Consumers Association, a nonprofit industry group.


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