Why certified organic foods are generally more expensive than their conventional counterparts?

Why certified organic foods are generally more expensive than their conventional counterparts?

It is true that organic products are expensive than their counterparts, and there are many reasons behind this. Primarily, it is very difficult to produce genuine organic food products. Farmers who do organic farming must ensure that they use no chemicals such as pesticide, and fertilisers. Thus, growing organic food products is comparatively more laborious. The yield on the farms of the farmers who practice organic farming could be very low compared to other farmers practicing conventional farming. It is because use of fertilisers ensures high yield in conventional farms.Organic foods require special post-harvest care, so they aren’t spoiled. Once harvested, the organic produce is prone to pest infestations as it is grown without using chemicals such as pesticides. They require special attention during processing and transportation as well. The produce must be quickly handled and must be sent for the next round of processing where the food processors ensure that they use no preservatives to process these organic food products.

Most of the organic food companies make sure that they pay the famers and labours well following the  fair trade practices which is added to the production cost of the products. They also make sure that their products meet the set standards, and their products obtain authenticity certificates that prove that their products are genuine. These organic certifications are expensive, and requires periodic renewals proceeded by thorough inspections from certification authorities.

Organic food sector is a niche market. The demand for organic foods is growing dynamically but they have a very limited supply. This is another reason organic foods are expensive than their counterparts. Additionally, marketing and distribution of organic products in small volumes based on consumer requirements also cause the prices to be at a higher end.