Make Me Smart From "Million Bazillion": Why does organic food cost more than non-organic food?
Sep 1, 2025
Stephanie Hughes, a senior reporter at Marketplace, dives into the curious world of organic food pricing. She reveals the reasons behind the higher costs, like labor-intensive farming and stringent USDA certification. Through playful banter, she and the hosts discuss the real challenges organic farmers face and explore why consumers are drawn to organic options. With humorous anecdotes about cucumber farming, they break down the complexities of organic food production, making economics both entertaining and enlightening.
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What USDA Organic Really Means
- USDA Organic means foods were grown following specific rules that limit synthetic inputs like man-made fertilizers and pesticides.
- Those production rules are the core reason organic often costs more at the store.
Farm Visit: Hand Weeding And Bug Picking
- Stephanie Hughes visits Sassafras Creek Farm and describes farmers hand-weeding and manually removing pests like Colorado potato beetle larvae.
- The Pulks avoid synthetic weedkillers and rely on approved natural sprays and labor-intensive methods.
Labor And Losses Drive Higher Costs
- Organic farming often requires more labor and higher input planning because synthetic chemical tools are restricted.
- Farmers plant extra to cover losses from pests and disease, raising per-unit production costs.