A lot of people have asked me what I prefer; organic or local...and is there a difference? I would have to say, it depends on the produce (see my previous post on the Dirty Dozen.) For the most part, I generally buy organic during the colder months and local during the warmer months when I can go to the farm and pick my own or purchase from the farm stand. Local is often a better option than organic because organic foods are highly imported. US demand for organic foods exceeds the US supply of organic foods.
A good strategy to employ in your food shopping is to buy often, meaning don't stock up on anything that doesn't have a long shelf life, i.e., fruits and vegetables. I tend to purchase my groceries twice a week; an extensive weekend trip and a short trip mid week after work to pick up a few produce items. This way you can ensure that your food will be as fresh as possible!