If you aren’t a Costco shopper, you may wonder if Costco is worth it for organic foods. Overall, I vote “yes,” but this post will include some price comparisons on some popular Costco organics to help you decide for yourself.
If you are planning your first trip soon or just want help staying on track, you can download my Costco Clean Eating Grocery Guide.
What Organic Foods Does Costco Offer?
First things first, what organics can you buy at Costco? This will vary some from store to store, but I will share what organics my local stores typically carry. I live in middle Tennessee and have two Costco warehouses fairly close by.
Organic Produce at Costco
Some of my favorite Costco organic bargains are the large containers of produce. You’ll also find a few organic salad kits to choose from. The Earthbound caesar salad kit is a family favorite for us.
- spinach
- spring mix
- green beans
- mushrooms
- broccoli
- zucchini & squash
- avocados
- mini bell peppers
- apples
- blueberries
- strawberries
- kiwi
- mixed berries (frozen)
- strawberries (frozen)
- cauliflower rice (frozen)
- assorted veggies (frozen)
Can’t eat it all in a week? Consider dividing it in half when you get home and freezing the other half for casseroles and smoothies.
Organic Protein Options at Costco
Costco has a pretty good selection of organic and natural protein options including beef, chicken and seafood. When shopping for seafood, I look for labels that say “wild-caught” and “product of the USA.” Farm raised and imported seafoods are usually a no-go for me.
- ground beef
- chicken breasts
- Wild Planet canned tuna
- Wild-caught frozen salmon (USA product)
- Wild-caught frozen cod (USA product)
- Wild-caught frozen shrimp (USA product)
- Tofu
- eggs (pasture raised)
Costco has the best price I have seen on pasture-raised organic eggs unless you have your own chickens, of course. We go in and out of the chicken game, but if we buy eggs, it’s usually from Costco.
Organic Dairy and Non-Dairy at Costco
Not quite organic, but Costco carries Kerry Gold cheese and butter at nearly half the price of the typical grocery store. While Kerry Gold is not certified organic, it is made from Irish grass-fed cows, which offer superior omega-3s.
- almond milk
- Whole Milk & 2%
- cream
- Greek Yogurt
- various cheeses
My local store carries an organic Greek yogurt with no sugar added. Yogurt is one of those common products where sugar is snuck in, so I always double check the nutrition label. Beware of the flavored yogurts. They may be organic, but they are usually loaded with sugar.
A couple of drops of maple syrup or honey is a fantastic way to transition from sweetened yogurts to non-sweetened. If slashing sugar is on your mind, you may be interested in my related post, 8 Ways to Reduce Added Sugar in Your Diet.
Organic Costco Pantry Staples
This category is another big money saver for us. Most of these items have a long shelf life, which is something to consider when buying in bulk.
- chicken stock
- 12lb. brown rice (lasts us months)
- pitted dates
- maple syrup
- honey
- olive oil
- balsamic vinegar
- pasta sauce
- Orgain protein powder
If you like protein shakes or add protein to your smoothies, Costco carries Orgain plant-based protein powder, which is organic and sweetened with stevia and a little sugar alcohol. I prefer the vanilla bean flavor, while my husband and son prefer the chocolate fudge.
We don’t buy many canned goods, but Costco carries a few variations of organic beans and soups.
Organic Costco Snacks
Costco carries giant bags of nuts, and sometimes there are organic options. My local store always has raw organic cashews in the snack section.
- raw cashews
- unsweetened dried mangos (a fav!)
- apple sauce
- Late July chips
- granola bars
- That’s It fruit bars
- Perfect Bar
- hummus
- guacamole
The apple sauce, hummus and guacamole come in various sizes from snack size to very large. You’ll find many more organic snack options at Costco depending on the week.
Now let’s look at how Costco prices stack up to my local grocery store. Kroger is a popular grocery store in the southeast. They offer a natural/organic store brand called Simple Truth. For reference, Simple Truth is always cheaper than Sprouts and almost always cheaper than Whole Foods.
Costco Organics Price Comparision
| Item | Kroger | Costco |
| strawberries | $7.99-$9.99 | $6.99 |
| blueberries | $7.99-$9.99 | $6.99 |
| apples (Gala) | $3.99-4.99 | $1.99 |
| mixed berries (frozen) | $4/lb. | $3/lb. |
| broccoli florets (bag) | $7.25/lb. | $5.99/lb. |
| spring mix | $4.99-5.99 | $3.99/lb. |
| spinach | $4.99-5.99 | $3.99/lb. |
| mushrooms (bella) | $6.40/lb. | $3.99/lb. |
| chicken breast | $7.99/lb. | $5.99/lb. |
| ground beef | $6.99-7.49 | $5.49-6.25lb. |
| eggs | $4.99 | $3.99 |
| brown rice | $2/lb. | $1.16/lb. |
| chicken stock | $1.99/lb. | $1.99/lb. |
| peanut butter | $3.60/lb. | $3.71/lb. |
| cashews (raw) | $12/lb. | $6.80/lb. |
| salsa | $3-3.50/lb. | $2.33/lb. |
| whole milk | $6.29/gallon | $7.32/gallon |
| tortilla chips | $4/lb. | $1.96/lb. |
| apple sauce | $3.79/6 cups | $3.17/6 cups |
As you can see in these charts, Costco usually wins the price per pound comparison with a few exceptions, but it’s easier to sell at a lower price when you are selling a large quantity of something. You’ll want to consider if you can use that much of an item before the expiration date.
While we buy many things at Costco, there are some things we don’t due to lack of storage space and just not being able to use it in time.
Is Kirkland Organic Really Organic?
Many organic items available at Costco are the store brand, Kirkland Organic, and some people wonder if Kirkland Organic is really organic. Yes, Kirkland Organic items are certified by the USDA and display the USDA organic symbol.
Not all Kirkland brand items are organic though. Many Costco items come in Kirkland and Kirkland Organic options. If you are looking for a fully organic product, be sure to look for the USDA Organic symbol.
Does Costco or Sam’s Club have more organic food?
When surveying shoppers who frequent Costco and Sam’s Club, the overwhelming response was that Costco carries more organic items than Sam’s Club. You can also glance over their websites and quickly see that Costco offers a much wider selection of organic foods.
Is Costco Worth It for Organic Foods?
Overall, yes, Costco is worth it for organic foods. Their organic food is less per pound nearly all of the time when compared to smaller local grocery stores. If you are unable to use all of the food before it goes bad or have limited storage space, then shopping at Costco may not be for you.
Check out my related post, Clean Eating at Costco—What to Buy?
