organic berries, is it worth it?

Organic berries are very expensive here. A box of 125 g blueberries costs 6 dollars. Strawberries are five dollars. Is it important to buy them organic? 

WOW. That's a lot for berries? Where are you trying to buy them? My local supermarket sells organic strawberries for $2.50 and they are only $1.40 on sale right now! Blueberries are more pricey at about $3.99 for a container, but I can't imagine paying $6.00!

If you find the prices to be higher at "organic" stores, then try a regular grocery that also sells organic berries. They are usually (but not always) cheaper.

when it is cheaper, it is not fresh. usually fresh organic berries are around this price. I buy organic blueberries as a treat when I hit the gym and work out really hard :)) other than that , I feel I don't " deserve" the treat:) 

But you know? there are some fruits and veggies that you need to buy organic. what do you think?

A good rule to go by is if you peel it (for fruit), it doesn't have to be organic.  I had a list of things at one point that pointed out things that should always be organic, and things that it isn't such a big deal.  Berries are probably something that you should buy organic if you can.  I try to eat only organic berries and most fruit actually except bananas, mangoes, and avocado.  I mean, you take the peel off those!  I don't peel my apples, but I definitely peel my bananas!

As for the prices, it depends on where you live.  Some farmers markets specialize in organic fruits and vegetables.  As the other poster said, sometimes you can find organic fruits at a regular grocery store.  As for it being cheaper and not fresh, go in-season.  All fruit is fresher when it is in-season in your area. 

It's really a matter of choice... Personally, I don't, but that's because my family devours lbs and lbs of fruit and veggies each week... If I bought organic, I would be broke!

I know here, for a food to be considered organic, it has to be grown in a field that has not had Pesticide or Fertilizer used on it in the last 5 yrs. Which obviously means that it also cannot be sprayed with either as well. Not only that, but they must be transported and stored differently as well (at least grains do) Unfortunately, these fields offer much smaller yields for the same amount of work and seed, which accounts for the price difference, which in some cases is quite huge.

I can't say that I find organic fruit and veggies to be a "treat", they taste the same to me, it's a matter if I'm willing to pay double the price to ensure that no chemicals were used in growing them. And usually, I'm not.

Makenasmom, it's usually the same with me. I eat upwards of a pound of berries a day as well as several pounds of vegetables and if I bought 100% organic I wouldn't be able to buy anything else!

When it comes down to it, my favorite place to buy berries is the farmer's market. And Safina, just because they are inexpensive does not mean they aren't fresh. Most berries are in-season now and that actually means that they are even fresher and cheaper at the same time! I'm just lucky to live somewhere where they don't charge you $6. Hahah.

I say no to the berries. I never taste a difference, and to me I would only spend the money if they tasted better.  In addition, organic berries rot so much faster! LOL. I typically spend my money on organic veggies as I think some of these taste waaay better (corn, carrots, celery, poatoes) but as far as fruits, most organic ones don't taste much different-except maybe certain apples..IMO

Actually, I think organic bananas taste better than regular ;) (the flavour is stronger and they taste more fresh)

Not worth it IMHO.

UD

Can we clarify whether we are discussing the importance of buying organic due to avoiding pesticides, or to increase the flavor of the fruit?

Organic fruits may taste better than fruit grown in a field using traditional farming methods, but I was under the impression the OP was talking about pesticides.  Once I reread it I realized it was never specified.

I said in my previous post that I had a list at one point.  It was a shopping list pad that had the same information as the information in the blog found at the link below.

http://fallenmonk.blogspot.com/2007/06/not-ev erything-needs-to-be-organic.html

This is about avoiding pesticides though, not increased flavor.

Anyway, as someone who buys organic as much as possible, it's interesting to me to see why people don't!  I'm glad people responded to the OP!  I'm not a stickler for organic, I just prefer it.  I even indulge in the occasional McDonald's (gasp) which is definitely NOT organic!

People sure have a lot of missing knowledge regarding their food.  Organics spoil more quickly as they have not been sprayed with chemical fungicides.  I'd rather plan to eat fruit quickly or freeze the berries than take the chance of eating some kind of bizarre chemical. 

Also, organic does not mean NO pesticide.  It means (hopefully) less harmful and persistant in the environment pesticides.  That isn't to say that are completely harmless either though.  That's a whole other can of worms.

*Some* foods labeled as organic are not  better than conventional because there are now a lot of industrialized monoculture farms with practices that are not a whole lot better than conventional agriculture, but they fit into "organics" by using organic pesticides and other organic practices.  It is a big business now. 

To my mind, the more important questions are "where did this food really come from?"  or "in what sort of manner was this food grown?"  or "was this food grown sustainably?"

In any way possible, I personally try to avoid as many chemicals in my body and as small an impact on the environment as possible.   This can be acheived much better by eating in season with food from the farmer's market.  Around here, there are many small farmers who may not be certified organic, but they actually live at their farm, love their land, and want to do the best by it that they possibly can. 

Eating conciously and in season is far more important than merely having a knee jerk reaction to "certified organic" because, as I said, sometimes that just doesn't mean enough anymore.  It is not always a matter of them tasting better, but being better for you.

As a bit of further commentary...eating the same fruits and vegetables all year long regardless of the season is not realistic.  I don't expect that this post will make converts of all who read it, but facts are facts. 

I would suggest that anyone whose interest is piqued by any of this do some further reading on the subjects of "beyond organics" and "eating in season"

i'm at work, i could write forever, but gtg.