10 Tips for Saving Money on Organic Food: Scott Nash of MOM’s
Yesterday’s discussion about the food crisis aside, in our own homes, many of us are struggling to keep putting organic foods on the table when prices are rising with no end in sight. The New York Times recently reported that a gallon of organic milk is hitting $7 in some parts of the U.S. Yikes!
So what can you do? OrganicMania reached out for advice to Scott Nash, Founder and CEO of My Organic Market (MOM’s), an innovative organic grocer in Maryland and Virginia. Here are Scott’s top ten tips for saving money at the organic grocery store.
1. Look for a price guarantee where you shop. Some organic grocers (like MOM’s) will guarantee the lowest price.
2. Buy in bulk. There are organic grocers (like MOM’s) who will offer 10% case discounts on products like 3 lb. wheels of cheese, nuts, grains, granolas, beans, etc.
3. Substitute less expensive veggies in place of expensive ones. Think broccoli, cauliflower, green peppers, and yellow onions instead of asparagus, red peppers, and sweet onions.
4. Buy what’s in season. Organic strawberries, for example, were $6 per lb. a few weeks ago, but now they’re already down to $4 and will keep dropping.
5. For out of season produce, shop the freezer section.
6. Drink water out of the tap – it’s cheaper and better for the environment. (Editor’s Note: Studies have shown that much of the bottled water out there is not any better than what comes out of your tap, and in some cases, its of inferior quality!)
7. Choose more grains and pasta.
8. Plant a garden.
9. Try to cook fresh meals at home instead of buying prepared foods or previously frozen dishes.
10. Cook your meals on 1 or 2 days per week when you have the time and then eat them throughout the week.
Do you have other organic savings tips? Please leave a comment and share!
And stay tuned, because starting next Friday, OrganicMania kicks off a carnival of green and organic savings. We’ll be using “Mr. Linky” to gather all of your tips. Please think about planning a post for next week. You can copy it into Mr. Linky and leave a link back on your site. I’ll have more details as we get closer to launch.
Let’s all help each other out by sharing ideas!
Happy Shopping!
Lynn
Copyright OrganicMania 2008
8 Responses to “10 Tips for Saving Money on Organic Food: Scott Nash of MOM’s”
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Great tips!
I also would like to add that most major organic brands have coupon online that you can print out. So if you shop with coupon and look out for sale in the grocery store you will get big saving. Plus with more media attention for organic food, even general grocery stores carry more varities of organic food. Think Publix or Walmart. So check them out for sale. Last week, I bought organic baby carrot from Target that was cheaper than conventional one.
Amy @ The Q Family
Wow! That’s a great find – exactly the kind of thing I’d like to see everyone share here on OrganicMania! Thanks for your tips, Amy! — Lynn
[…] Cara wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptYesterday’s discussion about the food crisis aside, in our own homes, many of us are struggling to keep putting organic foods on the table when prices are rising with no end in sight. The New York Times recently reported that a gallon … […]
[…] Christopher Scott wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptYesterday’s discussion about the food crisis aside, in our own homes, many of us are struggling to keep putting organic foods on the table when prices are rising with no end in sight. The New York Times recently reported that a gallon … […]
great tips as always, LA. hellboy and i just “discovered” MOM in alexandria last week for the first time and can’t wait to go back.
what i also loved there is that you could get certain gluten-free grains there in bulk, like amaranth and millet (aka Birdseed). makes it easier to try out on the family when you can buy only what you need for one try. (why buy a ton of a new grain only to find out that everyone hates it 😉
Thanks, Sher! Glad it was helpful. Yes, it is a fun place to go. –Lynn
Great tips, in fact we recently dug a fairly large garden in our back yard and plan on doing more with organic gardening. We’ve done so in the past, but this year’s garden is a vastly larger space than any previous garden. We’ve also started composting, which is helping what we throw away. This has all been inspired by your blog entries, previous posting from your readers and our desire to eat really fresh veggies.
One item that I am following is the recent report of prescription drugs found in drinking water across the U.S. This includes both tap water and bottled purified water. Recently the drinking water for Washington, D.C., and surrounding areas, tested positive for six pharmaceuticals. I think it’s something to keep in mind and to be aware of when drinking water out of a tap or bottled purified water.
Great news re garden! I’m thrilled that you were inspired by OrganicMania! I think that with food prices rising, a lot of people will be turning to the old fashioned garden this year. Yes, unfortunately I think the water issue is a sign of the times…hopefully with awareness people will stop disposing of meds in unsafe ways….I had no idea people did this. It makes sense that the purification systems were not designed to remove traces of drugs! The situation has got to be the same all over. Thanks for your comment! — Lynn
Great topic!
1. Give up packaged products, especially for Summer, and get that blender out. Instead of packaged breakfasts, whip up a smoothie! It’s also a great way to get more greens into your kids. Load the blender with swiss chard, spinach, sprouts and an apple or pear or berries to add sweetness. Fast, nutritious, cheap, and yummy!
Cool soups for dinner are equally nutritious, frugal and appreciated on hot days. Try
1 cucumber
2 zucchini
1 avocado
Some parsley, basil, scallions, lemon, garlic and some Bragg’s amino acid or sea salt
Start by blending the cucumber well. Then gradually add other ingredients.
Or
2.5 cups spinach
0.5 cups water
A smallish cucumber
1 avocado
A little lemon juice and sea salt
Some garlic, dill, scallion and parsley
Blend and water well. Gradually add remaining ingredients.
2. Go foraging for wild greens! If you don’t use chemicals on your lawn, chances are you’ll find dandelion greens—packed with Vitamins A + K, lots of B vitamins, calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorous, beta carotene and iron. They’re a little bitter, so you might want to boil them (change the water once or twice) or sauté with carrots or parsnips.
And purslane—a robust weed rich in omega-3, vitamins C and E, beta carotene and more. All parts of it are edible and can be eaten raw, steamed, stir-fried, or in a smoothie.
3. Go to pick-your-own farms and spend a day outside in the sunshine! You can share where food comes from with your kids and this will get them excited about eating the food! Pick extra berries and freeze for Winter. http://www.pickyourown.org/
Not all PYO are organic, so be sure to check
Sharon, great suggestions, as always! And in fact, our CSA had dandelion greens last week. They were delicious sauteed! Now we have to make the stinging nettles from Friday’s share! — Lynn
Buying organic makes sense for the health of the earth, farm workers and your family . But if you’re pinching pennies choose from this list to avoid pesticide residue.
Cheers,
Neil
[…] we have the Organic and Green Mom Blog giving us 10 Tips for Saving Money on Organic Food. Numbers 4 and 8 are our […]