YOU'VE HEARD When it comes to food, be an organic purist
WE SAY Go organic for some products
With signs screaming "organic" in every aisle, grocery shopping has become downright stressful (especially because organic food can cost 20 to 30 percent more). But filling your shopping cart with organic fare doesn't make you the greenest gal on the block. When you factor in the use of heavy machinery, extensive processing, and shipping food thousands of miles, organic doesn't necessarily mean better for the environment. Plus, USDA organic standards don't differentiate between farmers who go above and beyond organic growing techniques and those who follow the bare minimum, so the consumer doesn't really know the quality of what they're getting. (Experts do recommend buying organic for certain high-pesticide crops, such as strawberries, peaches, apples, celery, and lettuce; for a full list of produce that contains higher levels of pesticides, go to foodnews.org).

Instead of opting for organic, experts advocate buying from local producers whenever possible to get quality food at a lower price. Besides the reduced processing and shipping involved with smaller, local farms, buying items grown close to home also enables you to develop a relationship with producers, so you can ask how they're growing their products (though many smaller farms can't afford to get organically certified, they may not be using pesticides). If you don't have access to a farmers' market, consider joining a community-supported agriculture group (CSA), where members pay a seasonal or monthly fee to a farm in return for food. To find a CSA in your city or region, go to localharvest.org/csa.