Many of us recognize the value of eating organic foods. Unfortunately, many of us also face financial challenges when it comes to eating well. Is there anything we can really do about it?

Luckily, there is! One of the benefits of organic foods is the increased rate of spoilage. It’s fresh, but it doesn’t stay that way for very long. Those of us who regularly shop for organic produce have learned that it makes sense to buy less and shop more often. It’s about the only way to ensure that you’re not throwing away much of the food you buy.

Now for the fun part: How to buy organic and save money at the same time!

A happy side effect of quick spoilage is that organic food stores have the task of moving their inventory before it goes bad. When produce begins to wilt, it gets harder to sell. Produce that’s on the edge of unsaleable often gets bagged and tagged for the discount bin. And this is a boon for value-oriented shoppers.

I learned this lesson while shopping at Vitamin Cottage in Colorado Springs, but it has applied equally as well at Natural House here in Japan. Search your store for a produce discount area and you’re likely to find some really good deals on fruits and veggies that are just past their prime. It’s still tasty and if you eat it soon, you’re also going to be getting all the top-flight nutrients and taste.

Don’t forget to look for similar deals in the meat and dairy areas. Anything that isn’t frozen is prone to spoilage, and that’s an opportunity for you to save money. Recently, I picked up a couple of huge broccoli heads for 100 yen each, which was about 1/3 the retail price. Colour me happy!

And a teaser for the next article: How spending more money on your food can actually save you money.

Food for thought! 🙂