The demand for more natural and organic foods has been increasing in the past years in Australia. In 2014, demand for organics was outstripping supply by 40%, according to the Australian Organic Market Report. This means that:
- Supermarkets are tailoring to organic retailing more than ever before.
- More and more consumers buy organics nowadays.
As a result, organic food and products are more widely available, and supermarkets in food retailing are looking for ways to make healthier options more affordable and accessible to everyone.
If organic foods were only available to particular groups of consumers before, today more people can afford to purchase them.
Because there is growing competition among high-end supermarkets and conventional retailers to sell organic groceries and organic items – due to increasing consumer demand, – this means more opportunities for us, shoppers.
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However, organic foods remain pricier than conventional foods, and that means that we have to create more ways to cut our costs for organics. So where do we start?
Market analysis and price comparison
Possibilities to purchase organic groceries are not limited to major food retailers the likes of Woolworths and Coles, although both have taken on the task to expand their range of organics with affordable products and a wider selection of organic items.
Organic food in Australia is distributed through organic cooperatives as well, and farmers’ markets are one of the best alternatives to major retailers, for example. There are also specialty shops in Australia that sell only organics, some only through physical stores, others offering online purchasing possibilities as well.
The moment you decide for healthier food options, the first step to this is to compare prices within stores, compare prices between brands, check your local area for organic specialty shops and farmer’s markets, and also check your supermarket for generic brand items that usually cost much less.
Healthy food making at Home
Many companies today have started to specialize in producing organic easy-to-make meals and retailers are stocking them up in freezers as the healthier alternative to conventional prepackaged foods. While they may be tasty and possibly healthier than other options indeed, prepackaged usually comes pricier as well.
A budget friendly approach to a healthier diet is swapping those precooked dinners and lunches with meals cooked at home with ingredients not necessarily labeled as organic. Grains, beans and legumes are some of the cheapest healthy foods that come with the great advantage of long-term storage. Grains will keep for up to 6 months if stored properly while legumes can be stored indefinitely in a cool, dry place.
If organic meat and organic dairy are too expensive to fit into your current budget on a daily basis, work around a whole foods diet that includes some of the staple items mentioned above. Making your own meals will prove more money saving than buying prepackaged meals.
As you commit to a healthier diet as a lifestyle, you will adjust your tastes, your cravings and your budget naturally. You will gradually get to know which place to shop for organic dairy, for example, which supermarkets offer best deals on organic meats, and where to get your organic fresh produce at best pricing.
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It might take time and a little effort, but it is going to be worth it.