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Meat, poultry, eggs and dairy. Labels including "USDA Organic/Organic," "Not Treated with rBGH," "No Hormones Administered or Added" and "Certified Humane" are the real deal. Products labeled "No Antibiotics Used or Administered/Raised without Antibiotics," "No Hormones Administered" and "Grass-Fed" might also be worth it, although there are loopholes that may make them less meaningful. Buyer beware as "Free Range," "Free Roaming," "Cage-Free" and "Natural" have such loose requirements that animals could still have been mistreated.

Coffee and chocolate. Coffee and chocolate marked "USDA Organic/Organic," "Fair Trade Certified," "Rainforest Alliance Certified" and "Bird Friendly" are worth the extra cost. A label that might not be worth it is "Shade-Grown" as this label is not associated with a certifying organization.

Seafood. The USDA has not yet developed organic certification standards for seafood, so it never pays to buy organic. Fish could be labeled organic despite the presence of contaminants such as mercury and PCBs. "Dolphin Safe" and "Marine Stewardship Council" labels also lack sufficient regulation, yet "Farm-Raised" and "Wild-Caught" are government regulated and might be worth it, depending on the type of fish you are buying. For example, opt for wild-caught salmon but farm-raised tilapia.

Fruits, vegetables, beverages, pasta, oils and packaged foods. "USDA Organic/Organic" is the way to go for produce, but on packaged foods you'll see different organic labels: "100% Organic," "Organic" (95% of ingredients are organic) and "Made with Organic Ingredients" (70% of ingredients are organic). The label "Biodynamic" is stricter and worth the extra dollars, but is also tougher to find.

How To Save On Organics

Get more for your money at the grocery store with these seven tips from the experts at ShopSmart.

1. Prioritize purchases. If you have to pick and choose, go for organic produce, baby food, meat, poultry, eggs and dairy. The conventional versions of these tend to be more contaminated with pesticides and potential toxins.

2. Search the Web for coupons. Many major organic brands, including Stonyfield Farm, Annie's Homegrown, Organic Valley, Earthbound Farm and Heath Valley, offer coupons at their Web sites.

3. Shop at discount stores and comparison shop for specific items. Large discount chains like Sam's Club, Costco, Wal-Mart and Target now carry organics and claim that their prices are lower than those of most other retailers. But be sure to check prices on frequently purchased items at different stores to see which retailer sells them for the lowest price.

4. Look for store-brand organics and bulk packaging. Examples include Whole Foods Market's 365 Organic Everyday Value, Safeway's O Organics, Stop & Shop's/Giant's Nature's Promise, Kroger's Private Selection Organic, Trader Joe's and others that often cost less than national brand names.

5. Buy from bulk bins. You can now find organic rice, flour, beans, granola, nuts, pasta and peanut butter for less in bulk bins at many grocery stores.

6. Join a food co-op. They are independent grocery stores that usually offer local and organic foods. Some have a membership fee and may require members to volunteer at the co-op for a few hours each moth. Members get a discount when they shop. To find a local co-op, go to http://www.coopdirectory.org/ or http://www.localharvest.org/food-coops.

7. Buy lots of fresh fruits and vegetables in season. That's when prices are lowest. To see what produce is in season near you, click on your state at http://www.sustainabletable.org/shop/eatseasonal. If possible, freeze or preserve produce for later. You may be able to get a discount from local farmers by buying membership in a community-supported agriculture program and sharing it with friends.

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