We do the dirty dozen organic and then if there is a good deal on other items I’ll do those organic. We do get a lot of our produce, eggs and some other condiments and things at the farmers market so they are mostly local and organic. The organic eggs are a new addition for us and we did a store egg, organic egg shoot out and were surprised at how much richer and less sulfuric the organic eggs tasted. We will be choosing organic eggs from now on.yum!!

During the Summer we are lucky to be able to get almost entirely local and organic produce. We live in Washington just outside Seattle and we have great Farmer’s markets and even the food that is not certified organic has signs all over it saying no pesticides etc. I trust the farmers posting that for the most part so I am able to feel good about buying local and almost organic. During the winter we are sort of out of luck. We freeze berries etc from the Summer, but other than that our produce is obviously from other areas.

I think it’s also important to note that Organic products must be GMO free. Another incredibly complex (yet fascinating) topic and issue in the US and world today. For this reason I *always* purchase organic soy milk or use my own if a coffee shop doesn’t carry it.

I don’t often comment on your blog but read it every morning. This is something that I feel very passionate about. I am fortunate enough to live in Oregon and subscribe to a CSA year round. I get all of my vegetables from my CSA box. The farm is not organic but like others have said they use organic practices but the cost of become certified is outrages and would add additional costs to me! I pay ~$15 dollars per week for a 1/2 share and it feeds a garbage disposal (my boyfriend) and myself! So, I get the benefit of organic and local, it is sustainable, and relatively inexpensive for the excellent quality of produce that I get. I think the best part though is being able to go out to the farm whenever I want, pick, converse with the farmer and his family, and truly see where my food is from!

I definitely opt for local vs. organic. I actually rarely buy organic because I’m not really sure how important I think organic really is. I also don’t really care about organic because a lot of times farmers can’t even afford to do the work required to be labeled organic. Sometimes I buy organic brands of other items at the grocery because I like the brand/item, but I almost never buy organic produce. I’d much rather support my state’s farmers & buy something with a smaller carbon footprint (that tastes better, too!). I do buy things that aren’t local produce, but try my best to do so when I can. I live in a part of Ohio that unfortunately doesn’t have many farm markets (my first choice for produce).

This is why it’s so important to TALK to the farmer’s at the market. MANY farms practice organic farming but can’t or won’t get the organic label b/c of time, money, and bureaucracy. The organic label is powerful but doesn’t mean your food is 100% clean. I truly believe that local trumps organic in most cases, but it requires research and questions.

I like that grocery stores are starting to support local farms, but it’s still better to get produce from the source so that they get ALL the profit. Farmer’s markets and CSA’s are so wonderful and many can supply you with everything you need, including produce, milk, eggs, meat, bread, yogurt (I get all those things at my farmer’s market here in St. Louis!).

I joined a CSA so from the beginning of June to the middle of December I have fresh, locally grown produce. I talk to my farmer each week when I pick up my produce. They are growing organic but are not yet a certified organic farm. My CSA has a facebook page where all of the participants can post pictures, recipes, ideas, etc. It has become a nice community. You might want to look into a CSA in your area. I have certainly enjoyed mine over the years!

I generally try to buy local over organic- I think most local farms around here are farming responsibly (at least the ones at the farmer’s markets are) even if they are marked as organic, for reasons already discussed in previous comments. Thanks for the link to the dirty dozen- just printed it out to keep in my wallet!

I’m registering for baby gear and am tired of yellow and green. I’m nervous about getting cream colored things (like Henry’s sleep sack – so cute!) Is that just an unfounded worry? Are they hard to keep clean-ish?

I would love to buy only organic or local food but I feel it is so much more expensive. We are on such a tight budget that I can’t justify the cost. If there is a great deal on the organic produce or other products I always go that route. I’m not proud that my wallet dictates the grocery run over my health but I still feel that we can eat healthy and balanced meals even with out 100% organic items. I wonder what the real breakdown in cost is? I’ve never really sat down and tallied up a purly organic grocery bill with a mish mash of organic and regular items. I’d be interested to see what the real difference is!

Just started reading your blog a few weeks ago…wanted to comment, because I definitely agree with some other posters about local farmers who aren’t necessarily certified organic yet who utilize organic/humane practices to raise their food. The most important thing is to know your farmer, know how they raise their food and why–it can get very complicated, and like others have said, many farmers can’t afford to go through the incredible lengthy, complex and expensive organic certification process.

I think, more often than not, your local vegetable farmer is going to be the best source for healthy, clean produce. Not only are you getting quality food that is very fresh, but you are also supporting your local agriculture community, which I think is very important.

Good conversation topic! I usually opt for local whenever possible, and then often organic when local isn’t feasible.

Also, H is just the cutest little guy ever. You are so lucky to spend all day with him! Makes me want to quit my job and have babies… haha.

Ah, the great debate I always have in my head! I’ve found that some local produce isn’t labeled organic, but after talking directly with the farmer (a bonus for farmers markets!) I find that some things are very close to organic (no pesticides, etc), but can’t afford the official certification from the gov. I thought that was interesting!

Hands down local. It takes 3 years for a farmer can even apply to be USDA organic. Also to be certified USDA organic is very expensive and some farmers may opt out just because of that reason.

Great, informative post. I need to be more mindful of buying local/organic. I try to stock up on produce during Farmers Market weekends, but my schedule has been so random this summer, sometimes I just take what I can get when I can. Oh geeze, now I feel like a horrible person! ha

Wow, I always learn a lot from your blog. You bring up an issue and it gets me thinking and then I’ll read the comments and people blow my mind! Organic produce can still have been sprayed? Definitely going to look into this more.

Hey Caitlin you may have already answered this, but what kind of english muffins do you use. I have been eating the same ones for months now and I am looking for a change!

When I was living in New Zealand I recall reading about a farmer there who said he uses less chemicals on his conventional than his neighbor does on his organic, but I think I’d be more interested in what the chemicals were rather than amount. I personally prefer local produce over anything else, as you never know what chemicals are legally used in other countries. I also try to grow my own, but living in the city means everything is still covered in pollution. I would like to support organic as much as possible for the environment and also I like to get unwrapped produce as much as possible – how crazy is the amount of plastic these days? Most stores here seem to single wrap the eggplants etc. In NZ I even came across single wrapped prunes!

Back in Florida, I’m fortunate enough to be a part of an organic garden project at a nearby school. I get most of my produce there, but if I’m buying produce it’s almost always organic and almost always local. If I had to choose local conventional or non-local organic, I’d probably pick organic (if it was affordable). If I couldn’t afford it, then I’m sure I could make do without that fruit or vegetable.

Once again, I’ve been lucky enough to know all my local organic farmers, so I don’t ever have to choose between one or the other. (I know you don’t really like Gainesville, but it’s great for affordable local organic foods).

Obviously, local and organic is the ideal, but if I can’t have both I try to go for local. I work on and off in a farmer’s market so helping out the local industry is important to me.

i work for an agriculture company. we make all sorts of nutrient fertilizer for crops and such. we actually have a couple of pesticide products that are OMRI certified. While most, if not all, of our products are organic, the cost to get them all OMRI certified is quite costly. we aren’t a large company, so for now we just have a couple. i’m not sure what the farmers do on their end, but i thought i’d share a bit of what we go through trying to get the product certified as organic 🙂