Question: I want to feed my baby organic food, but it’s so pricey. How can I save money buying organic?

You’re right that buying organic can cost you. In our informal research, we paid about 25 percent more for jarred organic baby food than for non-organic versions (which amounts to about 17 cents more on each 2.5-ounce jar of baby food). Still, there are ways to save. Try these thrifty tips:

Supermarket comparison-shop. Check several local grocery stores to find the lowest price on frequently purchased organic food. We found a 4-ounce jar of organic baby food in the New York City area for as little as 69 cents a jar. Also, stock up on sale items. We found 4-ounce jars of store brand organic baby food on sale for 15 percent off at a national natural foods supermarket. And keep in mind that fresh organic produce is often cheaper in season.

Hit the farmers’ markets. A USDA study in 2002 found that about 40 percent of these farmers don't charge a premium. Check www.localharvest.org for organic grower listings.

Join the farm team. Buy a share in a community-supported organic farm and make your own organic baby food from the bounty you buy. The produce almost always is cheaper than at a farmer’s market and often costs less than the same non-organic items at a supermarket. Go to www.sare.org for a list of community-supported farms, then contact the organic community-supported farms in your area and ask whether they're certified organic. They should be able to produce evidence of certification or, if they sell less than $5,000 worth of produce a year, other documentation that shows they follow organic growing practices. 

Buy in bulk. I've found that some organic baby food lines are sold in packs of 24 2.5-ounce jars at a savings of about 4 cents per jar over single-jar purchases. Just check the use by/sell by date to make sure the food hasn’t expired.

See our reports on baby food and why organic baby food is safer for more information.