Organic Fruits, Vegetables Cost 53% More, on Average, Than Their Conventional Counterparts
Clean eating is important to many Americans, and that often goes beyond fruits and veggies. The quality of those products matters, too.
However, buying organic can be much more costly than buying conventional — particularly as grocery prices continue to rise. In fact, the latest LendingTree study found that organic produce costs an average of 52.6% more than conventional produce.
Here’s what else we found.
Key findings
- Organic fruits and vegetables cost an average of 52.6% more than their conventional counterparts. At the end of January, shoppers could expect to pay 179.3% more for iceberg lettuce, 126.8% more for Brussels sprouts and 123.3% more for Granny Smith apples. One in 4 of the 68 organic items reviewed cost at least 75.0% more than their conventional versions, and half cost at least 50.0% more.
- Prices for organic fruits and veggies rose at the same rate as their conventional counterparts over the past year, but individual items varied considerably. The average price increase for organic items between the end of January 2024 and January 2025 was 2.4%, compared with 2.5% for conventional items. The three largest conventional increases were for large Hass avocados (75.4%), collards (42.9%) and extra-large Hass avocados (38.2%). Organic large and extra-large Hass avocados rose by 45.9% and 2.7%, respectively, while collards were down 11.2%.
- Price changes for the same fruit or veggie in different packaging also varied. Among organic items, mixed mini sweet peppers rose in price the most at 99.6%, followed by three-pound bags of Gala apples (50.5%) and four-pound bags of navel oranges (48.2%). However, the price for organic Gala apples dropped by 15.7% when sold in two-pound bags and by 10.2% when sold by the pound. Organic navel oranges sold by the pound were up by a comparatively moderate — but still high — 24.7% and down by 9.5% in three-pound bags.
- American households spent an average of $8,167 on food at home in 2023 (the latest available), which equated to 7.4% of the average household income. Idaho residents spent the largest share of income on groceries at 10.4%, followed by Nevada and Utah (both 10.1%). In contrast, District of Columbia residents only spent 4.4% of their income on food at home, followed by New Jersey and Illinois (both 5.4%).
- Income aside, Utah households had the biggest grocery bills in the country, spending an average of $11,884 in 2023, or 45.5% more than the national average. Alaska ($11,180 per household, or 36.9% more) and Hawaii ($10,783, or 32.0% more) followed. Meanwhile, households in Illinois spent $6,101, or 25.3% less than the national average. West Virginia ($6,109, or 25.2% less) and Oklahoma ($6,619, or 19.0% less) followed.
Organic fruits and vegetables cost significantly more than conventional
Going organic is pricey. In fact, organic fruits and vegetables cost an average of 52.6% more than their conventional produce counterparts, according to our analysis of late January 2024 and January 2025 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) data.
“We’ve come to expect organic fruits and veggies to cost more, but paying a 50.0% premium can be pretty hard to swallow,” says Matt Schulz, LendingTree chief consumer finance analyst and author of “Ask Questions, Save Money, Make More: How to Take Control of Your Financial Life.” “When stubborn inflation is making everything else more costly and shrinking people’s financial wiggle room, paying extra for fruits and vegetables may prove a bridge too far.”
That discrepancy is largest for iceberg lettuce, with consumers paying 179.3% more for the organic version. While conventional iceberg lettuce costs $1.21, organic lettuce costs $3.38.
The next biggest discrepancy is with Brussels sprouts, with a pound of conventional Brussels sprouts costing $2.20 and a pound of organic Brussels sprouts costing $4.99 — a difference of 126.8%.
Granny Smith apples (123.3%) round out the top three.
Of the 68 organic items reviewed, 1 in 4 (25.0%) cost at least 75.0% more than their conventional versions, and half (50.0%) cost at least 50.0% more.
Organic items sometimes cost less than conventional produce, though that’s true of just 4.4% (or three) of the items reviewed.
Full details
Fruits and vegetables with biggest organic price premiums
Source: LendingTree analysis of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) data. Note: This was limited to items for which average retail prices were available for conventional and organic items for the week ending on the last Friday of January 2024 and January 2025.
Conventional produce prices rose by as much as 75.4% depending on item
While organic produce generally costs more, prices rose similarly to conventional produce in the past year. Conventional prices rose 2.5% between January 2024 and January 2025, while organic prices rose 2.4%. However, that varies depending on the product.
While older generations have long complained about younger consumers’ affection for avocado toast and the associated prices, those exaggerated complaints may prove less truthful if certain costs continue to skyrocket.
For conventional items, large Hass avocados rose by a significant 75.4% — the biggest price hike across all the produce examined. Meanwhile, extra-large Hass avocados ranked third with a price increase of 38.2%. Collards (42.9%) ranked second.
Conventional fruits and vegetables with biggest price increases
Source: LendingTree analysis of USDA data. Note: This was limited to items for which average retail prices were available for conventional and organic items for the week ending on the last Friday of January 2024 and January 2025.
Looking at their organic counterparts, large and extra-large Hass avocados rose by 45.9% and 2.7%, respectively, while collards were down 11.2%.
Among the organic products with the largest price increases, mixed mini sweet peppers (99.6%) jumped the most. Gala/Royal Gala apples (50.5%) and navel oranges (48.2%) followed.
Organic fruits and vegetables with biggest price increases
Source: LendingTree analysis of USDA data. Note: This was limited to items for which average retail prices were available for conventional and organic items for the week ending on the last Friday of January 2024 and January 2025.
Prices also depend on the amount you get. While prices for a three-pound bag of organic Gala/Royal Gala apples rose by 50.5%, the two-pound bag fell by 15.7% and the per-pound price by 10.2%. Similarly, a four-pound bag of organic navel oranges saw prices rise by 48.2%, but the per-pound price rose by 24.7% and the three-pound bag fell by 9.5%.
Generally speaking, buying in bulk can help you save, though it largely depends on the item.
While we focused on price increases above, here’s a look at the biggest price decreases among conventional and organic fruits and vegetables.
Conventional fruits and vegetables with biggest price decreases
Source: LendingTree analysis of USDA data. Note: This was limited to items for which average retail prices were available for conventional and organic items for the week ending on the last Friday of January 2024 and January 2025.
Organic fruits and vegetables with biggest price decreases
Source: LendingTree analysis of USDA data. Note: This was limited to items for which average retail prices were available for conventional and organic items for the week ending on the last Friday of January 2024 and January 2025.
American households spend average of $8,167 on groceries
American households spent an average of $8,167 on food at home, or 7.4% of the average U.S. household income of $110,491, in 2023 (the latest available data).
By state, Idaho spent the highest share of income on food at home, at 10.4%. Nevada and Utah followed, at 10.1% each.
States that spend biggest share of household income on groceries
Source: LendingTree analysis of USDA and U.S. Census Bureau data. Note: Excludes tips and taxes.
In contrast, District of Columbia residents only spent 4.4% of their income on food at home — the lowest by state. New Jersey and Illinois (both 5.4%) followed.
Monthly LendingTree Food Cost Report
Schulz notes that the states that spent the largest share of their income on groceries tend to be more sparsely populated Western states, while those on the other end of the spectrum are more populous states east of the Mississippi.
“In those big eastern states, housing costs are likely taking up a bigger percentage of income than what we see in the Western states,” he says. “Also, the states at the bottom of the list tend to be far more urban, so more dining-out options might lead to less dining at home.”
Full rankings
States that spend biggest/smallest share of household income on groceries
Source: LendingTree analysis of USDA and U.S. Census Bureau data. Note: Excludes tips and taxes.
Utah households spend average of $11,884 on groceries
Regardless of income, Utah households had the biggest grocery bills in the country. Here, households spent an average of $11,884 in 2023 — 45.5% above the national average.
Alaska ($11,180 per household, or 36.9% more) and Hawaii ($10,783, or 32.0% more) followed.
States where households spend the most on groceries
Source: LendingTree analysis of USDA and U.S. Census Bureau data. Note: Excludes tips and taxes.
Conversely, households in Illinois spent just $6,101 on groceries, or 25.3% less than the national average. West Virginia ($6,109, or 25.2% less) and Oklahoma ($6,619, or 19.0% less) followed.
Full rankings
States where households spend the most/least on groceries
Source: LendingTree analysis of USDA and U.S. Census Bureau data. Note: Excludes tips and taxes.
Saving on groceries while prioritizing organic: Top expert tips
If you prioritize organic eating but struggle to afford a rising grocery bill, you may not have to compromise as much as you think. Schulz offers the following advice:
- Leverage credit card rewards. “The right credit card, used wisely, can help you extend your budget,” he says. “While an extra 1.5% or 2% cash back may not seem like much, every little bit helps when prices are high. You can also take things a step further and seek out cards that give you extra rewards for grocery shopping.”
- Shop around. “Comparison shopping is almost always a good idea, and that’s certainly the case with groceries,” he says. “If you’re willing to break out of your routine and check prices at stores other than your normal grocery store, you can potentially bring in some real savings. Of course, you shouldn’t drive across town to save three cents on organic bananas, but it may be worth going a bit out of the way if the savings are good enough.”
- Buy in bulk when it makes sense. You may be able to make room in your grocery budget by buying some household items — like paper towels or toilet paper — in bulk. Run the numbers first to make sure you’ll save on costs in the long run.
Methodology
Researchers compared retail prices provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for the weeks ending Jan. 26, 2024, and Jan. 31, 2025, for the 68 fruit and vegetable items (including their unit sizes) that had prices available for organic and conventional versions during both weeks.
Household spending was derived by dividing average household spending on food at home by the total number of households from the U.S. Census Bureau 2023 American Community Survey (ACS) with five-year estimates. This result was then divided by the average household income in each state, also from the U.S. Census Bureau 2023 ACS with five-year estimates.
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- Key findings
- Organic fruits and vegetables cost significantly more than conventional
- Conventional produce prices rose by as much as 75.4% depending on item
- American households spend average of $8,167 on groceries
- Utah households spend average of $11,884 on groceries
- Saving on groceries while prioritizing organic: Top expert tips
- Methodology