Sustainable Greenville

Over the last few years the organic food sector has been growing at a steady pace of 20%. You would think that with the economic downturn, that rate would be slowing.

Well, only a little. Organic food purchases continue to grow at a substantial pace: 12.7%. And yet, I hear people say they just can not afford to buy organic or have to cut back on their organic purchases due to their constrained income and savings, especially hit hard by the economic downturn. Many have been surprised by my suggestions on how to shop for and where to buy organic comestibles. I have even been asked to offer a class on the subject. The fact remains, even those of us who are financially strapped, CAN eat organic on a tight budget.

So here goes. I am going to reveal some of my shortcuts on how to buy (and where to buy) organic.

First though, let's start out by defining what organic is and is not. The USDA Organic Definition is as follows:

An ecological production management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity. It is based on minimal use of off-farm inputs and on management practices that restore, maintain and enhance ecological harmony.

The USDA system also maintains strict controls on the growth, production and processing of organics by the exclusion of genetically modified organisms, irradiation and sewage sludge (there are many exceptions to the rule we will not get into). The organic standards and labels were established to allow the general public access to growers and producers that are willing to uphold the system, established in 2002. There are three basic USDA organic labels. The "100% Organic" label is available to products that contain only certified organic ingredients (excluding water and salt). The "Organic" label is where 95% of the ingredients must be certified organic; the remaining 5% must be non-organic ingredients approved by the National Organic Standards Board or non-organically produced agricultural products not commercially available in organic form. The "Made With Organic Ingredients" label can be used (but the organic logo can not be used) when at least 70% of the ingredients are organic.

The organic seal does give you a solid assurance about how your food was grown, greatly reduces your exposure to synthetic chemicals, helps protect the environment, protects the health of farmers and farm workers, means that animals are raised more humanely than on industrial farms and helps farmers on the land. The organic seal doesn't mean food was grown without any pesticides, doesn't guarantee you're exposed to no chemical residues, doesn't guarantee land stewardship, doesn't guarantee social justice, doesn't guarantee that animals were raised humanely, and doesn't tell us about the size (or type) of the farm or company. (Sourced from Grub: Ideas For An Urban Organic Kitchen by Anna Lappe and Bryant Terry).

For many people the Organic Seal is symbolic only. It tells them what may have been done on the farm. These people prefer the growing trend of buying and eating locally. The best place to buy quality organic food is at farmers markets, food coops or directly from the farmer. Quality assurance lies in the hands of the farmer and/or vendor. The closer you are to the source, the more likely the organic products are what they are: sustainably grown. Again, it's about asking questions. The other factor involved with these markets is price; typically higher, due to intensive hands on production. There is a benefit to these higher priced organics: healthlier foods, and in the long run it will save you money.

But this is about saving you money now.

So what foods should we really eat organically? When we are on a really tight budget, the first consideration is whether we need to eat exclusively organic. One choice is to buy organic produce that is on the Environmental Working Group's (EWG) Dirty Dozen list (visit www.ewg.org). The not-for-profit Environmental Working Group developed a produce ranking by analysts based on the results of nearly 43,000 tests for pesticides on produce collected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration between 2000 and 2004. In descending order the dirty dozen include peaches, apples, sweet bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, lettuce, imported grapes, pears, spinach and potatoes. These items should be bought organically. Starting with the produce with the lowest load of pesticides is onions, avocados, frozen sweet corn, pineapples, mangos, frozen sweet peas, asparagus, kiwi, bananas, cabbage, broccoli, eggplant, papaya and then blueberries.

One of the least expensive ways to eat organically on a budget is to mostly buy fresh produce and other whole foods. Buying processed and packaged foods is always more expensive. Instead of buying that box of cereal, consider making your own from fresh whole foods. For example, buy oatmeal, nuts and dried fruit in the bulk section and mix together to make your own cereal. The next time you are in the store look at the center aisles for products you could make for yourself. The options are endless. The Center for Informed Food Choices ( http://www.informedeating.org ) is a great place to learn about whole foods.

Consider soups, chilies, and salsas; they are easy to make on the stove or in a slow cooker and it's easy to make in large quantities. You can then freeze the dishes for future use (make sure to freeze in single or double serving sizes, you will save on wasted food). Most soups and chilies are good for up to six months in the freezer. Maybe you can make several meals at the start of the week or month and then freeze or refrigerate for quick meals; thaw and heat. I even like to eat cold soups and chilies, no heating required.

Fruits, breads and sturdy herbs like rosemary, sage, oregano and marjoram can easily be frozen. Frozen fruits are great for smoothies or quick snacks (one of the best snacks around is frozen grapes - just pop in your mouth and enjoy). The benefit of whole grains, beans and nuts is they will last for a considerably longer time if refrigerated and even longer if frozen. So buy these organic items in bulk. You can order larger quantities for much less from most grocery stores. These can be bought in larger containers or by the case or carton. Most people don't realize they can buy by the case at Whole Foods. Just visit the counter and ask to purchase by the case. They will be more than happy to help you.

Many people say they just don't have enough room to store large quantities of foods in bulk. Well, find a couple of friends that would like to buy in bulk as well.  Decide among yourselves what foods you all buy regularly and then head to the grocery store. If you have enough people you can create your own buying club and then proceed to contact organic wholesalers. Jump online and do a search for a regional organic wholesaler and set up a weekly or monthly shipment of produce, packaged goods and/or bulk items. There are specialty companies you can contact and set up bulk buys. You can even contact companies like Lundberg, Nature's Path, Barbara's Bakery, or Woodstock Farms directly. Many times the grower or producer of the packaged or bulk foods has an online store. They often offer large bulk purchases.

Visit your favorite companies online and you will be surprised what you find available at reduced prices. Occasionally you will find great coupons or specials available that you can then take to the store. One of the best online tools for finding organic coupons, savings and contests is Ecobunga ( http://www.ecobunga.com ). The website scours the internet for everything organic and healthy. When they find super deals they add it to their website. Get on their mailing list and you can get weekly updates so you won't miss anything. I entered a contest online through Ecobunga and won a Whole Food's $25 gift certificate.

Some of the most expensive items are snacks. We all love them, but our wallets hate them. Items like fruit juices, sodas, candy bars, cookies, potato chips, tortilla chips and microwave popcorn are the expensive choice. Instead, choose fresh fruits, homemade trail mix and granola, or homemade popcorn. But if you plan on buying the more expensive snacks or just can't afford them organically, consider other places where the prices are lower or delve into coupons.

Surprisingly, some discount and dollar stores have organic on their shelves. Some offer more selection, while others offer better pricing. Dollar Mart and Big Lots are the best for selection at large chain stores. However, ?The Better World Shopping Guide? ( http://www.betterworldshopper.org ) gives Big Lots a D- on environmental sustainability and social justice. Sometimes we must choose whether the budget comes first or ethical concerns. Of course, Wal-Mart gets an F on their list and yet they are the biggest seller of organic food on the planet and are typically the cheapest. How much are we willing to compromise?

Locally, the best place to buy organic processed foods is at Amazing Savings on White Horse Road at the White Horse Flea Market. Amazing Savings, just like the dollar stores, buys grocery items from liquidators who purchase discontinued, outdated and damaged products from main stream groceries. When items reach the expiration date, groceries need to pull them from their shelves. What most people don't realize is that any product that has been bottled, canned or packaged has a much longer shelf life than what is recorded on the package. Some items can last few a few weeks after the date, while others could last for years. Most bottled and canned items have been pasteurized and irradiated to extend the shelf life (but reduce their nutritional quality). The best canned items are tomatoes (cooked tomatoes have higher levels of lycopene) and beans like pinto, black and kidney.

Places like Amazing Savings offer these products at considerably lower prices. Amazing Savings has a very low overhead since they are only open on Saturdays and thus sell the products at the lowest prices anywhere in the upstate. There are many of the same items from week to week, but you never know what you will find. You can find organic ketchup, cereal, pasta, oil, cookies, coffee, sodas, snacks, rice, jams, milk, paper towels, body products, and even locally grass-fed beef. I once bought a 25 lb bag of Lundberg's Organic White Jasmine Rice for only $10. Now that's AMAZING!

Now let?s get back to coupons. Coupons are available at checkout or in healthy lifestyle magazines or even online. Online coupons can be individually selected and then print only what you want. Coupons out of magazines can have an expiration date that extends up to a year and half from date of publication. Store coupons and circular coupons have limited expiration dates. It's always good to sort coupons according to their dates. Both Whole Foods Market and Earth Fare have quarterly coupon books. "The Whole Deal" from Whole Foods is a large guide with several pages of coupons along with ideas and suggestions on how to save in their store. Earth Fare publishes their Healthy Clippings filled with coupons. Or sign up on their mailing list and get their online circular for the coming month?s coupons and bargains. It can help you plan your shopping strategy for the coming week or month.

This of course leads us into the realm of budget planning. Budgeting yourself and your family, makes you look at what you eat and where you eat. Try writing down all your purchases over the next few months and see how much is actually going towards food. How often are we eating out? Where are we eating out? What are we buying at that restaurant? You will discover where you could be cutting back on more luxury purchases and choose to replace with organic home made meals. Sometimes that discovery will set in motion a new shift in how you eat and live healthier. It will usually result in you saving money on your budget.

Another consideration when buying organic is the type of foods. Purchase more whole foods that are nutrient dense and filling. Highly processed and sugary foods leave you wanting more. Hence, your pantry empties faster. If you are hungry, sometimes the best choice is to drink a big glass of water. It will shut off the hunger response. Or choose to eat fresh inexpensive fruits like bananas, which will keep you feeling full for up to four hours. Choosing nutrient dense foods allows you to use less and yet still get as much flavor and health benefits as conventional foods. Use half the organic fruit in a smoothie made with ice and still get all the flavor. Again, you are saving money.

When you start to cook more at home, you will discover a shift in your food choices and where you choose to buy organic. Many people choose to start growing their own organic foods. It?s quite easy to grow herbs on a window sill or growing a few vegetables in a small container. Or take the full plunge into an organic garden. There are tons of organic gardening books, magazines and websites. And you don't have to buy the books, just visit the library and check out a book. Again, it's all about saving money.

The more organic vegetables and fruits you eat will also save you money. Vegetarians tend to save more money, since meat prices are so high, especially organic meats. Of course, we don't need to switch to becoming vegetarian. Just cutting back on meat consumption throughout the week can save you considerable money. The average American eats 209 pounds of meat a year (about 4 pounds a week or 16 servings!) There are plenty of meat free options and menus that are filling and flavorful. Try adding a couple of all raw meals for the week. Maybe make a dinner of fruits and greens.

If you just don't have a green thumb and need to purchase organic, consider keeping your driving to a minimum and buy organic as close to home. Organic selections are getting easier to find near your home. Most regular grocery stores now have a wide selection of organics available. Even the fast-marts and gas stations occasionally have organics. But there are specialty stores found around the area. East Greenville has Market For Life on Wade Hampton Blvd with all types of organics along with a strong knowledgeable staff to help you eat and live healthier. On the North side of Greenville you can find organic foodstuffs at Pott's Natural Foods across from the Cherrydale Plaza. The South side of Greenville now has the Pickwick Pharmacy Organic Grocery on Augusta Road. They even have vegan and vegetarian ready to eat meals and items available on the lunch menu. The far South area down off of Woodruff Road has The Wild Radish. They sell some local farmer's products and plan on having a juice bar featuring all organic fruits and vegetables. So when you're in these areas remember to stop by and see where you could save a few dollars. Even if you spend a few extra dollars, you can rest assure you are helping to support the local economy.

Another way to support the local economy is to patronize the growing café establishments offering organic products. Pott?s Natural Foods will have a new café in the back of the store called Everyday Organics. They will feature soups, sandwiches and salads made only with organic products. Over on Pendleton Street in the Art's District, a café called Shortyz will be opening in the near future. Their motto: Where  Vegans, Vegetarians and Meat Lovers Come Together. Around the corner on Lois Street will be a bakery, called Coffee To A Tea, featuring all organic, fresh milled breads and pastries, along with sprouted grain breads. They also will be opening shortly. As time goes by we will see more restaurants offering organic. Several of the nicer restaurants are already purchasing sustainably grown produce from local farms. American Grocery Restaurant and Devereaux's have been doing this for awhile.

Some of these local farmers are also offering ways for local consumers to purchase organic or sustainably grown foods. One avenue is the Upstate Locally Grown SC buying club. You can purchase on line and then pick up your items at either West End Coffee or Whole Foods. Many of these farmers are also participating in more of the farmer's markets around the area. The downtown market on South Main Street from Spring to Fall has several sustainable farmers. You just need to ask who is selling sustainably grown or raised foods. The newest farmer's market to open up this year will be at Whole Foods on Tuesday afternoons. The more we support local farmers, the more people will get into sustainable farming. The demand is growing. Let's be a part of that demand.

Most of us purchase most of our organic at local stores. And the number one way to save on organic at any store is to shop on a full stomach. Don't ever shop when hungry! Dollars can disappear quickly when hungry.

Remember to keep your eyes and ears open for deals. They can sometimes come in ways you would least expect them. Your neighbors may have organic fruit trees where they can not eat everything on the limb. Ask if you can pick some. Or maybe your neighbors have extra organic vegetables in their garden. You never know where your next organic meal might come from.