Organic Pricing

Many of us want to purchase more organic foods but run in terror when we see the price tag. The price shock, real or perceived, varies depending on the item (perversely there are isolated cases where the organic item is cheaper!) and remains the largest impediment to a larger uptake of organic foods. In the current economic climate such concerns may be valid, but a bigger question consumers often have concerns whether or not the higher price is warranted or if it is just another ‘lifestyle’ mark-up? As a part time volunteer on a certified organic (by the UK Soil Association) city farm, I am here to say organic pricing reflects the labour required.

Ordinary industrial farming makes extensive use of machinery and pesticides. While larger scale organic farms certainly make use of machinery where appropriate, the absence of pesticides requires natural means of pest control – wildlife habitats that encourage predators, netting and covers, and extensive manual clearing of pests. In the past week I have learned that locating and destroying leaf-hungry caterpillars on gooseberry bushes requires more than a fair bit of dexterity and sharp eyesight. Consider that on a larger commercial scale the labour required is greatly multiplied while the yields are reduced and it becomes evident why prices must be elevated. That being said, there is a case to be made that the marginal difference is not so great.

While reduced yields and labour costs go up, there are the savings realised by avoiding chemical fertilisers and pesticides. In the economic value chain, this does take away business from agro-chemical companies and affects the livelihoods of those working in such industries. It is worth considering, however, that these are capital-intensive industries – that is, there is little manual labour required to produce such chemicals. To manage pests and growth ecologically requires a labour-intensive approach, enriching local communities by providing much needed jobs to often impoverished rural areas. In the EU and US, rural poverty remains a challenge, though one that is often overlooked relative to urban poverty. Organic farming is a step in the right direction to combat rural poverty. As for those working for agro-chemical companies, there are ample opportunities elsewhere in the chemical industries for eco-friendly innovations used outside the agricultural sphere.

The next time you are contemplating the organic versus the conventional option for a particular product, remember there is a lot more love and care that goes into the production of that particular provision. Consider this in the price differential, particularly if the difference is less than 25p. Two weeks and many nettle stings, parasitic insect massacres, and compost coverings later, I am experiencing the labourious, but rewarding realities of organic farming. Where possible support local communities and ecology – try and purchase from local box schemes or farmers markets, or look to see the origin of the produce in the supermarket (it can be better to purchase domestic but not organic produce from a carbon-footprint perspective). In the meantime, check out Growing Communities to see what we are doing in Hackney to increase the local production of affordable organic produce.