Are organic vegetables truly more expensive than the ones with agrochemicals?

Abstract

The present study compared prices between vegetables produced within organic and conventional
systems in different modalities of supply at the Federal District - DF, Brazil. Field study
was conducted in ecological street markets, including one exclusive to family farming, a market
for organic food at the Centre of Food Supply, and conventional markets during November
2015 and April 2016. The data analyses looked into absolute and relative price differences showing
that organic food sold at supermarkets is substantially more expensive than the organics
commercialized in alternative markets. In the comparison with conventional vegetables, even
though these are generally cheaper, the organics still show competitive prices and cost even
less in some cases. The study concluded that the affirmation and spread of information that do
not consider the multiplicity of places that supply organic food is incomplete.