Where to Find Organic Foods

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Excerpted with permission from Mothers & Others for a Livable Planet

Monday, April 23, 2007

Besides local supermarkets and farmers markets, where else can you buy organic? We have suggestions for you.

At your local supermarket.

Many conventional supermarkets carry some organic produce and packaged foods. If your market doesn’t carry organic foods, request them! Supermarket management is receptive to customer demand. The greater the demand, the more likely that you’ll eventually see organic foods in your market.

At natural food stores.

Most natural food stores offer a wide variety of organic foods. Look for smaller, independent, locally owned stores, which often buy organic produce directly from local farms. Larger chains that may be in your area include Whole Foods Market, (which also owns Wild Oats, Bread & Circus and Fresh Fields). You can also look in your phone book under "health food stores" and "grocery".

At farmers markets.

Farmers markets connect us directly with local farmers and how our food is grown. There are more than 4,385 farmers markets across the country, according to the USDA. The majority feature organic and conventional produce that is grown locally. You can request organic produce from the farmers market manager, too. Most chambers of commerce or county courthouses have lists of markets in the area. See also the USDA Farmers Market On-Line Directory.

At food cooperatives.

Food co-ops, or buying clubs, allow consumers to purchase food in bulk directly from farmers and other suppliers, usually at wholesale prices. Some co-ops occupy a permanent site, such as a storefront or garage; others use a temporary site, such as a church basement, for a few hours a week while members divvy up a delivery of food. National Cooperative Business Association offers educational materials, "How to Start a Co-op Food Buying Club" video and "Starting Out Right: Guidelines for Organizing a New Retail Co-operative," sold together for $24. The Cooperative Grocer Online has a Food Cooperatives directory. See also: Co-op Directory Services.

Through Community Supported Agriculture projects.

In a typical CSA, community members purchase a share in a local farm’s operation at the start of each growing season, or a "subscription" to the farm for a set period of time. CSA members often provide their payment up front to assist growers with production costs and, in return, receive a box of freshly grown produce directly from their grower every week during harvest, usually June through November. CSAs benefit farmers by guaranteeing them a direct market for their produce, and give consumers a chance to know the farmers and the land where their food is grown. You can choose a CSA farmer who grows food organically or with minimal pesticide use. The cost is often significantly lower than organic foods at the supermarket. Resources for Community Supported Agriculture include:

Bio-Dynamic Farming & Gardening Assn
USDA’s state by state CSA directory
Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) Provides information to farmers who are interested in beginning a CSA program or in improving an existing one.

Online resources:

Local Harvest also provides a nationwide listing of family farms, farmers' markets, restaurants, food coops and more.
Organic Consumers Association has an online directory that can be searched by area code or city and state.

A Good Place to Start

As you transition to buying organic, begin with the foods that you and your family consume in the greatest quantities. For kids, consider switching to organic baby food, strawberries, rice, milk, bananas, and apples.