Organic produce costs 59% more than conventional, study finds

(InvestigateTV) — Organic fruits and vegetables cost 59% more on average than conventional options, according to a new LendingTree analysis of USDA price data. The gap comes as the average U.S. household spent just under $8,000 on groceries in 2024.

Matt Schulz, chief consumer finance analyst at LendingTree, said the added cost of eating healthier compounds pressure many households are already feeling.

“Everybody wants to eat healthier, but a lot of times eating healthier is more expensive, and that just makes things harder in a time where gas prices are higher and most everything is higher,” Schulz said.

The analysis found organic produce prices rose 10% from January 2025 to January 2026, while conventional produce prices changed little over the same period. For some items, the increase was far steeper. Organic Roma tomato prices nearly tripled over that year, while organic green bell pepper prices more than doubled.

The analysis also found Utah, Alaska and Idaho had the highest average grocery bills in 2024. Schulz said geography plays a significant role.

“A big reason why people might spend more on groceries out west is simply that it may take longer and cost more for the food to get out there from kind of the heartland of where a lot of America’s agriculture is done,” Schulz said.

Schulz recommends shoppers break from their standard grocery routines and shop around to find savings.

“Once you set that amount that you can spend on your grocery budget, then you can determine if that markup on the organic fruits and vegetables is something that you’re good with,” Schulz said.

LendingTree also recommends buying in bulk, particularly for staples like paper goods and pantry items. Purchasing larger quantities can cut costs by 27% on average.