Paying extra for organic, free range, etc?

No.

Although free range eggs do taste better.

I've always wanted to avoid paying for "labels", but have really starting to rethink if this is paying for the label or extra effort and a better product. Meats, the "dirty dozen" of produce, cheese, and a few other things are what I've ended up shelling out the extra money for at the store. I would love to do more, but there is only so far the budget will stretch. I also tend to like to find local vendors and will pay a little more so that I can have a slightly better product and help support somebody that is literally around the corner! :laugh:

agree with no here.

No.

Although free range eggs do taste better.

I agree about the eggs. We have chickens that are free range and the color and taste are much better than store eggs. I cringe when I have to buy eggs at the store:sad:

For eggs, dairy, and meats I will buy as free range / etc. as possible b/c I'm concerned about animal welfare, and I think it's probably healthier.

For fruits and veggies, I buy organic for the "dirty dozen."

I actually buy grass fed, free range beefalo once a year. It tastes better and it's nice to know that it isn't loaded with pink slime or other chemicals. Last year I bought a quarter, I will have to get a half this year as I ran out of some of the cuts. It was $3.70/lb. With that you get all cuts of beef. It's cheaper than buying it in the store and it's locally raised.

It's mostly for the sake of the environment and animals. It's definitely worth it if you consume meat, poultry and dairy. Especially eggs.

I don't usually eat organic but I know it's better.

Eggs. When my kids were little, I bought hormone free milk and meat.

the "dirty dozen"?

http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/

I don't buy organic, but I do buy free range. I just like the idea of big fluffy chickens running around, rather than sitting in their own urine, too weak and apathetic to move. It's partly because it icks me out, and it's partly because I would rather avoid causing an animal to have an unnecessarily miserable life.

I always buy organic for the Dirty Dozen (http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/) However, in general if I can afford it I will buy organic everything because it's a more sustainable practice and better for the environment, and people as a result of that. (Vote with your dollar.)

When I eat meat, I buy only local grass-fed, hormone free meat. Same goes for eggs and dairy: hormone free and sustainably produced. This means I spend a lot of time doing research on the internet - but completing a Master's degree which should have been in procrastination means I've had a lot of that for the last year or so. I pretty much have only a few brand names that I buy in the grocery store because "organic" "free range" etc. are not FDA regulated labels: basically they're marketing and anyone can use them.

So... yes, I would pay more for organic, local, and sustainable foods but in practice, I do research before I buy anything. Shopping at my local farmer's markets hasn't always been the best choice either, but it's something that matters to me. On that note, my biggest weakness is cheese (which I don't buy a lot): because I judge "good" cheese by how it tastes not how it's produced.

Always: milk, eggs, lettuce/spinach, strawberries, carrots, and ketchup (I don't eat the stuff but the hubby says its better tasting)
Sometimes: meat, chicken (I buy Sanderson Farms if I don't buy organic chicken), assorted produce (depends on availibility)

I'll buy other things too if I like the taste better or the price is enticing enough (i.e. I love Annie's mac &cheese over Kraft).

True, I love Whole Foods and I actually spend less there than when I shop at regular super markets. The produce lasts longer in the fridge (which allows me to shop once every two weeks and still be able to make healthy meals). Their bulk bins are amazing because I can only buy what I need (helps not having to store as much or if I don't like something, I don't have a whole back left of that grain or whatever I'll just finish what I have and never get it again).

Also, I like that I can mostly avoid sweets and junk foods at WF. They sell them, but I didn't grow up eating them so there's a lot less willpower involved not buying chips I'm unfamiliar with etc. Also - some speciality foods are cheaper at WF than regular supermarkets if you do buy them. I'm not saying those just add water soups or miso bowls are healthy but they're at least a dollar cheaper not on sale at WF than at any of my local places. (Used to eat them for lunch at work all the time.)

My boyfriend and I have worked in the food service industry for years. As a 13 year butcher, he can tell you that most of the commercial supermarket meat that comes in is garbage. Over his time in the industry he has seen the quality of the meat decline greatly. It's not uncommon to cut into tumors in the meat and worse incidents that I won't mention here as it would prolly make you lose your lunch. And that's IBP, Swift, etc.... brands that are stocked in most every store now. I've worked in resturants, delis and bakeries. I pay more to get my food locally because the quality nowadays is straight garbage. As a cake decorator, I can assure you NOTHING is scratch from grocery store bakers despite what a lot of people think. Most frosting is water, corn syrup and oil. I've seen soup come squeezed out of a bag and heated in the microwave and mac and cheese bright yellowy-orange and squeezed from a tube. Yes you may pay more for good food but if you keep your meat portions in check and throw in a veggie based meal a night or two a week it all evens out. And the biggest thing for me is it tastes so much better and i"m supporting my community. For every $100 you spend at a chain $40 stays in your community, at a local business $60 does.