Organic growers do not use synthetic chemicals for controlling weeds. Many organic growers rely on workers to remove weeds by hand. However, hand-weeding labor is much more expensive than the use of herbicides – as high as $1000/acre in comparison to $50/acre. The increased cost of weeding is one of the reasons that organic food costs more, a point recently made by the well-known food writer, Michael Pollan…

“There are several reasons organic food costs more than conventional food. … Farming without chemicals is inherently more labor-intensive, especially when it comes to weeding.”

Author: Michael Pollan
Title: “Michael Pollan Answers Reader’s Questions”
Publication: The New York Times Magazine. October 6, 2011. pp.34-36.