How many of you choose organic over normal foodstuffs?

[Fio2]

I am quite amazed at how much organic stuff people buy on here, with repect to looking at what your child ate yesterday thread. I have to say I buy no or very little organic foods (not that I can get hold of any!) and if mumsnet represents a 'typical' population how come the variety of organic foods is so minimal? And how do you all afford to buy organic milk? My kids drink nearly a full six pinter a day between them (is this excessive? )

thanks carlyb, that does help. I know it says the large boxes are suitable for a family of 4, its just that my two eat like horses (and that's before dh and I have even started ) so I'm sure we tend to eat more than your average family of four! That site does make the food look reaaaallllly tempting.

Forgot to say - don't forget to use the preferences function on the site if there is stuff you find is not being eaten after the first couple of weeks. We were sometimes getting grapefruit and onions which were not being used up. So I just put in that I disliked these contents and they always substitute with somethign else now. I also top up our box oder with a big bag of apples booked as extras as we were finding that we never had enough to last us the week. The extra bag has about 8 apples in it.

fox, I am really impressed with the quality of the stuff. My local supermarkets have a dire quality of fruit and veg. However it is quite pricey - but I personally think that it is worth it for decent fruit and veg, and we sacrifice other things to afford it (such a night at the pub! Never thought I would see the day!). You might be better off with a bigger box than the 16 pounds one. Or perhaps try the smaller one and then change for your next order if you are impressed and get the bigger one. hope this makes sense!!

soapbox - I didnt realise that about the dislikes - will have to do that. thanks

soapbox, because I am in the south east I dont get a full catelogue of food to choose from, it is quite limited. Is this why extras doesnt come up in my catelogue?

thanks both of you - that does help. I must say, after this thread yesterday, I don't think I'll be able to look at another piece of fish the same again. I even found myself double checking the piece of mackerel the kids had for tea in case there were any rogue worms on it (yes, mad I know!).

I think I might try some of their food and see whether we think its worth it. I've worked out that if we got all the meat and fish we normally eat plus a large veg box, it would come to £60.

Try this - vegetable extras

If that works then the link to the other extras pages is down the LHS of the screen.

i cant afford it for a family of five

A&C are also the ones with the muscular young men.

We have organic milk delivered. I buy organic bread, yoghurts and what veg I can get. This thread has prompted me to find an organic meat farmer and I did The 1st in County durham.

I usually get organic pasta etc.. and juices.

juniper, could you give me the details of your farmer? I'm not far from you!
A quick question for you fish experts - I found frozen salmon in Tesco today which was 'caught in the pacific' - is that ok then? And does it taste any good? Presumably the tinned stuff is also ok?

Have to say I'm in two minds about organic - can't decide if its worth it, it really blows a hole in the budget and I'm suspicious of how much the supermarkets mark it up....I tend to buy organic just for the kids but then its another barrier to all eating the same food....

Vaguely relevant article in the Guardian today here .

I'm an eat local rather than flown in organic person, but try to buy local integrated production food whenever possible (judicious use of chemicals). The farms around here are IP, but I wouldn't want to eat their fertilizer, either -- it's manure. It's organic.. but blergh and it stinks! I rinse my food really really well.