Marketplace All-in-One From "Million Bazillion": Why does organic food cost more than non-organic food?
Sep 1, 2025
Stephanie Hughes, a savvy senior reporter for Marketplace, joins the hosts to decode why organic food is pricier than non-organic options. They dive into the labor-intensive practices and strict regulations farmers face, all while keeping the conversation light-hearted. Hear hilarious discussions about the challenges of organic farming and even a whimsical farming experiment showdown. The episode offers relatable insights into grocery prices that both kids and adults will appreciate.
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What USDA Organic Actually Means
- USDA certified organic means producers must follow specific rules about how food is grown and made.
- That certification signals to shoppers that the farm avoided synthetic chemicals like man-made pesticides and fertilizers.
Weeding By Hand On Sassafras Creek Farm
- Stephanie visited Sassafras Creek Farm and described tall weeds like amaranth crowding shallots.
- The Pulks hand-weed and manage fields without synthetic herbicides as part of their organic practice.
Higher Costs Come From Labor And Lower Yields
- Organic farming usually costs more because alternatives to synthetic tools are pricier or need more labor.
- Farms often hire more people and accept lower yields, and those costs show up in retail prices.