How Much More Does Organic Produce Cost?

Do you opt for organic produce at the grocery store? Maybe you do for some items but not others, or perhaps you never choose organic ingredients at all. The choice to shop organic or not is a personal one, which can be influenced by factors including accessibility, cost, flavor preference, and more. And for anyone who is on a budget, there are new insights into the price of organic produce that you need to know.

Organic produce costs nearly 53% more than regular fruits and vegetables on average — especially when it comes to leafy greens — according to the results of a new study. Lending Tree, a North Carolina-based online marketplace for loans, broke down the data for 68 common organic products, providing context for where we may spend the most money in the produce aisle.

Some of the most expensive organic vegetables include iceberg lettuce, brussels sprouts, and romaine lettuce, with organic versions respectively costing an average of 179.3%, 126.8%, and 118.8% more than non-organic offerings. At checkout, that might mean that a head of organic iceberg lettuce will cost $3.38, while the conventional produce is typically around $1.21. 

Apple prices will differ depending on the variety, but an organic Fuji apple may be priced 103.1% higher than its regular counterpart, and an organic Granny Smith will have an even greater markup of 123.3%. 

“These are enormous differences that are impossible to ignore when you're at the supermarket checkout counter,” LendingTree chief consumer finance analyst Matt Schulz tells Food & Wine. 

To compile this data, LendingTree analyzed pricing data from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for products available in both January 2024 and 2025. According to the USDA, “certified organic foods are grown and processed according to federal guidelines addressing, among many factors, soil quality, animal raising practices, pest and weed control, and use of additives.”

There is some good news: A number of organic products — like flat spinach and green onions — may actually be less expensive than their non-organic counterparts. However, LendingTree says this only applies to 4.4% of the products analyzed. 

“Ultimately, our spending is a reflection of our priorities. It is different for everyone, but there's no doubt that the question of how much is too much is being asked in many households throughout the country right now,” Schulz explains. “It is a moving target, too. People may be willing to pay double for organic brussels sprouts today, but if inflation spikes everywhere, they may not be willing to pay that premium tomorrow.”

Lending Tree also reveals that across the board, Americans put a notable portion of their paychecks toward food shopping. Households in the United States spent an average of $8,167 on groceries in 2023, per the study, which shakes out to be 7.4% of their total income. 

It’s important to consider the context of these numbers. Residents of some states — like New Jersey and Illinois — spent less than other states on food shopping for their homes, which could mean dining out or ordering in. States with a higher cost of living might spend a relatively smaller percentage of income on food shopping, simply because so much money is dedicated to housing costs.

This isn’t the only time that LendingTree has reported on the higher costs that consumers are facing. During the height of the fast food value competition last year, another LendingTree study revealed that 78% of Americans viewed fast food as a “luxury.” 

As high grocery prices worry people across the country, being armed with knowledge about cost comparisons and how far your money will go is vital to everyone who grocery shops.

Largest average price gaps between organic and conventional produce
Item	Unit	Conventional cost	Organic cost	Premium %
Iceberg lettuce	each	$1.21	$3.38	179.3%
Brussels sprouts	per pound	$2.20	$4.99	126.8%
Granny Smith apples	2-pound bag	$1.93	$4.31	123.3%
Romaine lettuce	each	$1.01	$2.21	118.8%
Blackberries	5.6—6-ounce package	$2.48	$5.37	116.5%
Gala/Royal Gala apples	3-pound bag	$2.84	$5.99	110.9%
Fuji apples	per pound	$1.29	$2.62	103.1%
Vine-ripe tomatoes	per pound	$2.17	$4.40	102.8%
Collards	per bunch	$1.10	$2.22	101.8%
Sweet potatoes	per pound	$1.10	$2.15	95.5%

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