Why Organic Food is Better For You (& Worth the Cost)

I try to eat as much organic food as possible. We started eating organic food at the end of 2014, and I then really started researching why organic is better for us. Before, I never gave much thought to the organic section in the supermarket, but after learning about it, I understood why organic food is better for both health and the environment.

I always buy organic when it's available. Fruit, vegetables, tea, coffee, plant milk, nuts, seeds, olive oil, and tinned goods like beans, lentils and tomatoes are all organic staples in our house now. We also regularly order a Riverford organic veg box, and it's inspired us to make even more organic choices over the years. If there's an organic option, we buy it.

We also grow a lot of our own organic fruit and veg in our garden, and being passionate about healthy living, it just makes sense to choose organic wherever we can, whether that's what we grow ourselves or what we buy.

Read on to discover why organic food is better when it comes to healthy eating and whether it's worth the cost.

Benefits of Organic Food

If you're short on time, here's a quick summary of why I think organic food is worth it, then read on for more detail on each one below:

1. It genuinely tastes better - we noticed this ourselves the moment we first tried it back in 2014

2. Higher nutrient levels - studies have shown organic fruit and veg often contain more antioxidants, vitamins and minerals

3. Fewer pesticide residues - especially important for pregnant women and young children

4. Better for soil health - organic farming keeps soil fertile without relying on synthetic chemicals

5. Supports wildlife and biodiversity - organic farms encourage natural pest control and genuinely free-range animals

6. No genetic modification - organic standards rule out GMOs entirely

7. Supports a more sustainable farming model overall, not just what ends up on your plate

What is Organic Food?

Organic food is food that has not been treated with harmful chemicals like pesticides or artificial fertilisers. It's also never genetically modified. Organic farming practices focus on crop rotation to maintain fertile soil and promote natural pest control, which is much more sustainable for the planet.

Organic farm animals truly are free-range, and wildlife is encouraged to thrive. It's not just about what's excluded either, it's the natural methods used to grow and farm it that make the real difference. Plus, when you eat organic, you're supporting a farming model that's better for the environment.

Why Organic Vegetables Taste Better

It's not just about avoiding chemicals, taste and nutritional value matter too. I honestly think organic food tastes better, and it's something we noticed straight away.

When we first started eating organic back in 2014, we were amazed at the taste. We'd first got so used to mass-produced, cheap supermarket fruit and salad tasting like water that the organic food we tried for the first time was so flavourful we couldn't quite believe it.

The organic vegetables we got from Abel & Cole tasted far better than regular supermarket options. (We used to order from Abel & Cole, but we now use Riverford instead, since Abel & Cole no longer deliver to the area we live in.)

The apples, for example, have an incredible taste that regular store-bought apples just can't match. The potatoes in our organic roasts are a highlight, with a richer flavour that we didn't know we were missing until we tried them.

Studies have shown that organic fruits and vegetables often contain higher levels of important nutrients too, such as antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.

Why Do People Prefer Organic Food?

More and more people are choosing organic, and it's not hard to see why. For me, it comes down to my own personal health reasons and healthy living ideals just as much as anything else.

For many people, it's a concern about the pesticides and chemicals used in conventional farming. Beyond that, it also comes down to taste, as I mentioned above, and the peace of mind of knowing your food has been grown without artificial fertilisers and genetic modification.

Choosing organic isn't only about eating healthier, it's also about supporting ethical, sustainable farming practices. When you buy organic, you're voting for a healthier world, one where our food, environment, water, and wildlife are protected.

A small harvest of delicious fresh organic vegetables from our garden.

Is Organic Fruit and Veg Better for You?

Yes, in a few key ways. Not only does organic fruit and veg contain fewer chemicals, but the farming methods used also lead to healthier soil, which in turn produces more nutritious food. The food we consume from the earth is only as good as the soil it comes from, and organic farming keeps that soil fertile and free from the toxins often found in conventional farming.

Non-Organic Pesticide Residue: What the Research Shows

As well as being free of pesticides, herbicides, and genetically modified organisms, organic food is grown with methods that support the environment. Organic farming promotes biodiversity and soil health, ensuring we're consuming food that's been grown sustainably.

Non-organic food contains residues of pesticides, and shockingly, as we import a lot of food, imported foods often contain twice as many cancer-linked pesticides compared to UK-grown produce. A study revealed that these imports frequently exceed UK safety limits for pesticide residues, raising concerns about the long-term health effects.

This highlights the risks of consuming non-organic imported fruits and vegetables, and the value in choosing organic where you can. For more details, you can read the full article on PAN UK's website.

Pregnant women and young children are thought to benefit most from cutting down on pesticide exposure, since their developing systems are more sensitive to what's sometimes called the "toxic load" of consuming small amounts of multiple chemicals daily. A randomised trial covered by the Health and Environment Alliance found pregnant women eating organic fruit and veg had significantly lower pesticide exposure than those eating conventionally grown produce. If you're going to prioritise organic anywhere, this is a genuinely good place to start.

The Cost of Organic Food

One common concern is the cost of organic food, and yes, it does cost more. I know I like saving money as much as anyone, given how much of this blog is about exactly that, but this is one of those expensive things that are worth the money in my opinion, as an investment into our health, the environment, and wildlife.

It's a shame it costs more to buy organic, but I always think the more people who buy it, the more normal it becomes, and hopefully the cheaper it gets over time as demand grows. Organic still makes up under 2% of total UK food and drink sales, according to the Soil Association's Organic Market Report, so there's genuinely a long way to go before it becomes the norm rather than the exception.

We've found that cutting back on less healthy options, like takeaway food, and putting that money towards organic produce instead has been a good way to spend our food budget on things that are genuinely better for our health.

The Dirty Dozen

There is a list of 12 foods, known as the "dirty dozen", which are most likely to contain high levels of pesticides. When choosing organic, these are the foods to prioritise. The list changes each year.

The latest UK Dirty Dozen list, compiled by PAN UK using the most recent government pesticide testing data available, found the following foods were most likely to contain multiple pesticide residues:

1. Grapefruit - 99%

2. Grapes - 90%

3. Limes - 79%

4. Bananas - 67%

5. Sweet peppers - 49%

6. Melons - 46%

7. Fresh beans - 38%

8. Chilli peppers - 38%

9. Mushrooms - 31%

10. Broccoli - 26%

11. Aubergines - 23%

12. Dried beans and lentils - 21%

The percentages show the proportion of samples containing residues from two or more pesticides. The list is based on UK government testing carried out in 2024 and is the latest UK data available in 2026. For the full list and details, visit the PAN UK Dirty Dozen page.

The 2026 US Dirty Dozen list, compiled separately by the Environmental Working Group, includes:

1. Spinach

2. Kale, collard & mustard greens

3. Strawberries

4. Grapes

5. Nectarines

6. Peaches

7. Cherries

8. Apples

9. Blackberries

10. Pears

11. Potatoes

12. Blueberries

For the complete, up-to-date list, visit the Environmental Working Group's website.

Whenever possible, try to buy these items organically, as they're the ones most heavily contaminated by pesticides. The dirty dozen list can change each year, so it's worth checking online for the latest version.

Should I Still Eat Non-Organic Fruits and Vegetables?

Yes. Even if you can't always buy organic, it's still far better to eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, including non-organic ones, than to avoid them altogether in favour of processed foods. And remember, unless processed foods are organic, their plant-based ingredients may have been conventionally grown too.

Non-organic fruit and vegetables still provide important nutrients, including vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. So don't let the higher cost or limited availability of organic produce put you off eating fresh fruit and veg. When you do have the choice and your budget allows, choosing organic can help reduce your exposure to pesticide residues.

Abel & Cole Promo Code

If you want to try organic without paying full price from the start, Abel & Cole currently offer 50% off your first and fourth box when you sign up, using code VEGBOX50 at checkout.

Riverford Discount Code

Looking to try organic food a different way? Use my Riverford referral link to get £15 off your second organic veg box, or read my full Riverford discount code review first.

Final Thoughts: Is Organic Worth It?

Organic food is better in more ways than one. From the health benefits to the positive environmental impact, there's a strong argument for it being worth the cost. If you're wondering whether to make the switch, even swapping over a few staples like your fruit, veg, or tinned goods is a good place to start.