Cost Comparison of Foods Purchased for an All-Organic Diet and a Conventional, Non-Organic Diet

Abstract

The objectives of this study were: To determine if there are mean cost differences between all-organic foods and conventional (non-organic) foods; to determine if there are differences in the mean cost of all-organic foods among higher, moderate, and lower price grocery venues; and to determine if the mean cost difference between all-organic and conventional foods varies among higher, moderate, and lower price grocery venues. The sample included selected organic food items and their conventional counterparts at a lower price (Walmart Supercenter), moderate price (Food City) and higher price (The Fresh Market) grocery venues in Kingsport, TN. Product price and package size in ounces or fluid ounces were collected. Cost per ounce was calculated for analysis. A repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) with two within-subjects factors was used to determine statistically significant differences. A p value [less than or equal to] 0.05 was chosen as statistically significant. There was a significant main effect of organic status, F(1, 27) = 27.497, p < 0.001, for all foods e.g., food costs were significantly higher for organic foods compared with conventional foods. There was not a significant main effect of organic status in the Dairy group, F(1, 4) = 5.779, p = 0.074, though there was a trend towards significance since the p value was not much larger than 0.05. There was not a significant main effect of organic status in the Fruit group, F(1, 1) = 4.267, p = 0.287. There was a significant main effect of organic status in the Grain group, F(1, 8) = 10.318, p = 0.012; in the Protein group, F(1, 3) = 52.658, p = 0.005; and in the Vegetable group, F(1, 7) = 7.763, p = 0.027 e.g., food costs were significantly different for organic and conventional foods in the Grain group, Protein group, and Vegetable group. There was not a significant main effect of grocery venue, F(2, 54) = 0.664, p = 0.519, for all organic foods e.g., organic food costs were not significantly different among the lower price, moderate price, and higher price grocery venues. There was a significant interaction between the organic status and grocery venue, F(2, 54) = 8.633, p = 0.001 e.g., the difference in mean food costs between organic and conventional foods was significantly different among lower price, moderate price, and higher price grocery venues. It was found that organic foods were significantly more expensive than their conventional counterparts. Organic food costs were not influenced by grocery venue. Therefore an all-organic shopper may not significantly benefit by shopping for organic food at a lower price grocery venue. The differences in food costs between organic and conventional foods, however, were significantly different among grocery venues. Perceived cost increases between conventional and organic food items may depend on a chosen grocery venue. Further research is needed to analyze cost and availability of organic food items at various grocery venues including food cooperatives, superstores, health food stores, bargain grocers, and traditional national and local grocery stores.