How expensive and easy is it to eat organic in Spain?

Shorouk Express

If you want to eat healthier and have a lower impact on the environment, choosing organic is a good way to do it. But how affordable and practical is it to shop for ecological produce in Spain?

Many of us would choose to eat organic if we could. Not only is it healthier, but it’s also better for environment, choosing items that aren’t grown with toxic pesticides for example.

Produce which is orgánico (in Spanish) is easy to get hold of in Spain – most specialised fruit and veg shops have a separate section, although many of the major chain supermarkets don’t.

Is organic food actually affordable in Spain?

According to Spain’s Association of Consumers and Users (OCU), buying organic products increases the price of a monthly shop by almost 70 percent.

Inflation has already increased the price of many food items over the past few years, but if you choose an eco-labelled product, it could cost up to 68 percent more.

They calculated that if you spend €872 a month on a regular shop, you would be spending €1,465 per month if it was all organic.

READ ALSO: How much should my monthly food bill be in Spain?

So maybe you can’t afford to eat productos ecológicos all the time, but are there certain products that it’s worth buying organic, so your monthly bill will only raise slightly?

According to the Environmental Working Group, there are a list of 12 fruits and vegetables with the most pesticides — nicknamed the ‘Dirty Dozen’. These include strawberries, spinach, kale, grapes, peaches, pears, nectarines, apples, peppers, cherries, blueberries and green beans.

So even if you can’t afford to buy solely organic products, it might be worthwhile to just switch out these 12 items for organic alternatives.

Eating free range and ecological eggs may be worthwhile too, even if you’re spending a bit extra, because of the way chickens are kept and the impact they have on the environment.

Buying organic meat and dairy products is also better for the environment and your health. According to Agricology, organic meat contains about 50 percent more beneficial omega-3 fatty acids than conventionally produced products.

But of course it’s up to you which organic products you buy and how many you can afford.

As mentioned, unlike places in the UK for example, big chain supermarkets like Mercadona rarely sell organic produce, however some international brands like Lidl and Aldi do have some scattered throughout the store, as well as some fruit and vegetables, the majority belonging to their private label brands.

Carrefour, found across most of the country, also has sections for ecological products, as well as same organic fruit and vegetables.

Department store El Corte Inglés, found in every big Spanish city also has a range of ecological products in its supermarket.

One of the main ecological supermarkets in Spain is Veritas, which has 85 stores across the country located in the Basque Country, Navarre, all over Catalonia, a couple in Madrid, several across the region of Valencia and a couple near Estepona in Andalusia. They also sell healthy alternatives, gluten-free products, lots of vegan items and other products that are hard to find in regular supermarkets like alternative flours.

Herbalario Navarro is another good store, which has many shops across the Valencia region, but also in Madrid, Murcia, Mallorca, La Rioja and Barcelona.

There are also many companies offering eco and organic fruit and veg delivery boxes across the country. Lots will come up on Google if you search in your town or city. Most of them work on a subscription model where you can get produce delivered every week or every other week. Their offerings depend on the season but you can usually amend them if there are certain products you don’t like.

Your local market may also have organic sections, so it’s worth asking around. There are often weekly farmer’s markets in many towns and cities which might sell ecological produce too.

Here are some of the main organic supermarkets in popular cities across Spain:

Madrid

Onesimum

Restore 7

Granel Madrid

NaturaSì

Barcelona

Barcelona has so many organic and ecological stores and supermarkets that you’re bound to find one in almost every neighbourhood in the city. Even if they’re not fully organic many fruit and veg shops like Cal Fruitós have organic sections.

NaturaSì

Linverd

La Botiga Ecològica

Organic Market Gràcia

Gra de Gràcia

Valencia

Terra Verda

Biosofia

Nutriterapia Valencia

Alicante

Happy Vegetal

Escaramujo