-‘Organic’ is a labeling term the USDA uses for food grown a certain way
-Organic foods in 2019 cost 50% more as well
-Over the past year, the largest price differences are iceberg lettuce
Eating organic fruits and vegetables may be beneficial to one’s health, but it is more costly than nonorganic items — over 50% more, according to a new study.
LendingTree, a financial services company, analyzed data from the United States Department of Agriculture between January 2024 and January 2025. Researchers found that organic fruits and vegetables cost 52.6% more on average than “conventional” produce.
The USDA defines organic as a labeling term that indicates an agricultural product was produced using approved methods.
Studies have shown that organic food is not necessarily more nutritious, but it leads to less pesticide exposure, according to the University of California Davis. That’s a benefit since pesticides have been known to cause cancer.
In 2019, the price disparity was about the same. Organic foods at the time cost 50% more than other perishable groceries, according to UC Davis.
“This is largely because farmers have to pay close attention to their cultivation practices,” according to UC Davis.
Over the past year, the largest price differences are iceberg lettuce ($3.38 for organic versus $1.21 for nonorganic, on average), LendingTree found.
One in four organic items cost 75% more, according to LendingTree, which compared the prices of 68 items.
“When stubborn inflation is making everything else more costly and shrinking people’s financial wiggle room, paying extra for fruits and vegetables may prove a bridge too far,” said Matt Schulz, LendingTree chief consumer finance analyst, in a news release.
-NewsNation
