[Lyndee]

Which is best and which to buy is a weekly challenge for me....

I look at how it is packaged and where it comes from, too.

Key again for me is to think before and as I buy and keep my impulses out of the decision making. Make decisions on what is best for the health of our family and our pocketbooks, while helping the planet...

[mollyL]

I've learned that when it comes to organic produce it really helps to make friends with the greengrocer in your health food shop. They're usually up to answering questions and they'll often help you choose a properly ripe piece (sometimes that judgement is difficult if you're not accustomed to organics).

[ammulu]

I check out online for any particular stuff to research on the product before I can go for it, apart from that I prefer friends and family recommended products to just try before buying them in bulk.

[Angel]

I try to buy organic as much as possible. tesco is doing a weekly organic box which is quite good if you don't count the packaging. I used to get one delivered by an organic farm but it always had the same items and got very boring.
one caution... I overheard a farmer at a local market telling his neighbour he just smeared some earth on his potatoes and the green freaks never knew the difference.

[RFL1986]

One of the biggest problems I've had with organic produce is knowing how to pick a properly ripe piece because it's difficult to tell what is perfect and what is past it's prime. I second that it's important to ask someone who works at the market or shop and find out from them because they'll know better than others.

[stav]

I tend to buy locally produced conventionally cultivated produce over 'organic' products shipped over here at huge expense from the ends of the earth.....

even conventional producers are now making huge efforts to be more green, with less packaging, fewer chemicals etc...

[3plus3]

The hardest thing I am finding is trying to buy organic and still stay within my budget, it is vastly seeming impossible.

[stav]

Unfortunately, buying organic is expensive. You would think that as they are not using expensive chemicals and equipment it woud be cheaper!

That's another reason why I would try to buy local rather than organic. What I would maybe lose in green cred for buying conventional, I make up by not getting stuff that has been shipped in at great carbon cost from a zillion miles away.

[Roguegal]

The best organic veggies I ever had were from my own garden. They had wonderful flavor and I knew what was used to grow them. If you have a house it's the best way to go. Just mark out a little area in your backyard and if you need to fence off so that the doggies don't get to it and have all the veggies you want.

[tater03]

We have started a garden just to help with the cost. Not only that but you cannot beat vegetables from your own garden. As for organic products in general I usually buy on the recommendations of family and friends.