Price differences between organic and ‘regular’ products in Swiss supermarkets are significant. But what explains this disparity – and is it justified?
But first, what does a ‘bio’ label stand for in Switzerland?
In a nutshell, organic products, labelled ‘bio’, must meet much higher standards and comply with more requirements than the ‘conventional’ foods in the way they are grown and manufactured.
Contrary to most conventional production methods, organic farming is more sustainable – that is, it protects the environment and conserves resources instead of depleting them.
In Switzerland, this process is strictly controlled by various organic farming ordinances, which are enforced by the Federal Office for Agriculture (BLW).
This means that every farm that produces, prepares, sells or imports organic products is inspected and certified at least once a year by one of the four accredited and approved certification bodies in Switzerland.
READ MORE: What does the ‘bio’ label on foods in Switzerland really mean?
All the processes and procedures that are involved in growing and certifying organic food partly explains its higher price.
Here’s what you should know
In an example recently cited by Swiss media, organic Gala apples cost 4.80 francs per kilo at Migros and Coop – that is, 71 and 64 percent more, respectively, than their conventional counterparts.
Among the main reasons for higher prices are operational costs involved in the use of natural, pesticide-free fertilisers and top-quality animal feed, which are higher in organic farming than in conventional production.
But that’s not all: Weeding often requires a significant amount of manual labour, while special machinery represent costly investments as well.
All that ‘trickles down’ to the consumer, explaining why these foods are quite a bit more expensive.
Is it worth paying more for organic products?
It comes down to personal preference – and your wallet.
Some people will swear by the better quality and higher nutritional value of organic products, though there is limited information to prove how these differences actually benefit human health.
There is, however, this piece of science-backed data: consumer magazine KTipp analysed samples of various vegetables sold in Switzerland for the presence of toxic substances.
The organic vegetables were found to be generally less contaminated than conventional products.
For instance, the PFAS content of organic carrots from Coop and Lidl was about half that of conventional carrots from Migros and Aldi.
