Food prices: Gap between organic, regular items is shrinking – Axios

The price gap between organic and conventional foods is shrinking.
Why it matters: Organic food has historically been harder to afford than regular items, putting it largely out of reach of many lower-income shoppers.
What they found: Private-label organic items were 14.7% more expensive than regular food in January, down from 22.7% in April, according to an analysis of 1,500 organic products conducted for Axios by DataWeave.
Be smart: Inflation is hitting conventional foods harder, with DataWeave finding price increases of 2% to 4% for organic food and 11% for regular items over the last year.
By the numbers: The shrinking price gap is particularly noticeable in produce.
Of note: The supply chain for organic products is “more resilient against sudden disturbances, like market spikes or extreme weather,” Kovalcik says, and “that makes our industry and our products less prone to major shocks.”
Yes, but: The prices of some organic products have jumped in recent months. The price gap between brand-name organic items and regular food increased month-over-month in December and January, according to DataWeave.
Context: Although debate continues about the value of organic items, the Mayo Clinic reports that there's "a growing body of evidence that shows some potential health benefits of organic foods when compared with conventionally grown foods," including more nutrients and less exposure to pesticides.
The bottom line: Organic food is no longer exclusive to the shelves of stores like Whole Foods and Trader Joe's — and that means it’s no longer commanding the same price premium as it once did.

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Tags: organic