Going organic is said to be both commendable and healthy. But is spending an additional $20 at Big Y worth it? Possibly, but it is important to know the difference between organic and conventional food preparation prior to making a decision.

According to MayoClinic.com, the style of organic farming refers to the lack of unnatural additives involved in the growing process.
“Organic farming practices are designed to encourage soil and water conservation and reduce pollution,” said the site of its benefits.
The trend seems to be sweeping the nation, one grocery store or restaurant at a time.

Amy Spindler of CookingLight.com shared in her article, “Organic vs. conventional: What do experts say?” that “the organic market is growing at a steady pace of nearly 20 percent annually, and that translates into organic alternatives in nearly every grocery aisle – from snack foods to frozen meals to baked goods,” According to Spindler.

Aside from the organic market expanding in grocery stores, it is also ambushing local restaurants. Various eateries in the Amherst area pride themselves on buying only locally grown foods.

The Black Sheep, in Amherst, offers handmade breads, desserts, pastries, locally- bought milk and organic fair-trade coffee. Tabellas Restaurant in Amherst is advertised as “farm to table dining.” According to the eatery, 80 percent of their selections are locally and organically grown.

A common misconception is that all foods served organically are mainly vegetarian or vegan. This is certainly not the case, as Local Burger in Northampton proves.

This self-proclaimed “good fast food” joint offers “fresh, delicious, and well-priced food, while supporting the community through the use of local produce, products and services,” according to their website. The burger shop serves veggie, turkey and portabella burgers in addition to the classic red meat option, all organic.

But what will this do for prices? From Local Burger, the Grass Fed burger is $6.59, whereas a smaller burger from McDonald’s fits on the Dollar Menu. Local Burger’s menu lists that their seven-dollar burger is from Chicoine Farm in Easthampton. McDonald’s offers no place of origin, leaving customers to guess.

It’s not just restaurant prices that are escalated from the organic boom. Supermarkets also feel the wrath, according to the Chicago Tribune.

In the article titled “Organic vs. Non-Organic,” the Tribune explains that “higher prices are due to more expensive farming practices, tighter government regulations and lower crop yields.” Apparently the organic sticker isn’t just slapped on any food item. As the Tribune continued, “Organic farmers use methods to control weeds and pests that are labor intensive and more expensive than herbicides or pesticides, and that can drive up cost.”

As for the health differences between going organic and consuming conventional methods, MayoClinic.com sums it up. Conventional farmers use chemical fertilizers to increase plant growth to its full potential, while organic farmers stick with manure or compost to help flourish vegetation. In conventional farming, insecticides and pesticides are sprayed on crops to keep disease at bay.
Organic farmers “use beneficial insects and birds, mating disruption or traps to reduce pests and disease,” said the site. Conventional farmers also use herbicides to kill weeds, while organic farmers practice crop rotation or manual weed removal. MayoClinic.com also covers one of the scarier aspects of conventional farming; animals are fed growth hormones and other medications to increase food production and ward off diseases. Organic farmers simply give animals organic feed and let them roam outside, meanwhile carefully cleaning equipment and surroundings to fight disease.

The choice seems simple: Support factory farming while ingesting potentially harmful chemicals for lower prices, or go organic and support local farmers who avoid dangerous additives for a bit more money. Going green may take a bit extra green out of your wallet, but it could lead to a healthier lifestyle.

Kate Evans can be reached at [email protected].