Americans see gardening changes as 'plant hardiness zones' shift across half the U.S. (2024)

A woman cooking up a nice pot of pasta.

Over the past few years, rising supermarket prices have forced many families to make compromises on ingredient quality when shopping for meals. A recent study published by Supermarket News found that 41% of families with children were more likely to switch to lower-quality groceries to deal with inflation.

By comparison, 29% of people without children have switched to lower-quality groceries to cope with rising prices.

Despite the current rising costs of groceries, O Organics has enabled families to consistently enjoy high-quality, organic meals at affordable prices for nearly two decades. With a focus on great taste and health, O Organics offers an extensive range of options for budget-conscious consumers.

O Organics launched in 2005 with 150 USDA Certified Organic products but now offers over 1,500 items, from organic fresh fruits and vegetables to organic dairy and meats, organic cage-free certified eggs, organic snacks, organic baby food and more. This gives families the ability to make a broader range of recipes featuring organic ingredients than ever before.

“We believe every customer should have access to affordable, organic options that support healthy lifestyles and diverse shopping preferences,” shared Jennifer Saenz, EVP and Chief Merchandising Officer at Albertsons, one of many stores where you can find O Organics products. “Over the years, we have made organic foods more accessible by expanding O Organics to every aisle across our stores, making it possible for health and budget-conscious families to incorporate organic food into every meal.”

With some help from our friends at O Organics, Upworthy looked at the vast array of products available at our local store and created some tasty, affordable and healthy meals.

Here are 3 meals for a family of 4 that cost $7 and under, per serving. (Note: prices may vary by location and are calculated before sales tax.)

O Organic’s Tacos and Refried Beans ($6.41 Per Serving)

Few dishes can make a family rush to the dinner table quite like tacos. Here’s a healthy and affordable way to spice up your family’s Taco Tuesdays.

Prep time: 2 minutes

Cook time: 20 minutes

Total time: 22 minutes

Ingredients:

1 lb of O Organics Grass Fed Ground Beef ($7.99)

1 packet O Organics Taco Seasoning ($2.29)

O Organics Mexican-Style Cheese Blend Cheese ($4.79)

O Organics Chunky Salsa ($3.99)

O Organics Taco Shells ($4.29)

1 can of O Organics Refried Beans ($2.29)

Instructions:

1. Cook the ground beef in a skillet over medium heat until thoroughly browned; remove any excess grease.

2. Add 1 packet of taco seasoning to beef along with water [and cook as directed].

3. Add taco meat to the shell, top with cheese and salsa as desired.

4. Heat refried beans in a saucepan until cooked through, serve alongside tacos, top with cheese.

Americans see gardening changes as 'plant hardiness zones' shift across half the U.S. (1)O Organics Mexican-style blend cheese.via O Organics

O Organics Hamburger Stew ($4.53 Per Serving)

Busy parents will love this recipe that allows them to prep in the morning and then serve a delicious, slow-cooked stew after work.

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 7 hours

Total time: 7 hours 15 minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

1 lb of O Organics Grass Fed Ground Beef ($7.99)

1 ½ lbs O Organics Gold Potatoes ($4.49)

3 O Organics Carrots ($2.89)

1 tsp onion powder

I can O Organics Tomato Paste ($1.25)

2 cups water

1 yellow onion diced ($1.00)

1 clove garlic ($.50)

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

2 tsp Italian seasoning or oregano

Instructions:

1. Cook the ground beef in a skillet over medium heat until thoroughly browned; remove any excess grease.

2. Transfer the cooked beef to a slow cooker with the potatoes, onions, carrots and garlic.

3. Mix the tomato paste, water, salt, pepper, onion powder and Italian seasoning in a separate bowl.

4. Drizzle the mixed sauce over the ingredients in the slow cooker and mix thoroughly.

5. Cover the slow cooker with its lid and set it on low for 7 to 8 hours, or until the potatoes are soft. Dish out into bowls and enjoy!

Americans see gardening changes as 'plant hardiness zones' shift across half the U.S. (2)O Organics baby gold potatoes.via O Organics

O Organics Ground Beef and Pasta Skillet ($4.32 Per Serving)

This one-pan dish is for all Italian lovers who are looking for a saucy, cheesy, and full-flavored comfort dish that takes less than 30 minutes to prepare.

Prep time: 2 minutes

Cook time: 25 minutes

Total time: 27 minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

1 lb of O Organics Grass Fed Ground Beef ($7.99)

1 tbsp. olive oil

2 tsp dried basil

1 tsp garlic powder

1 can O Organics Diced Tomatoes ($2.00)

1 can O Organics Tomato Sauce ($2.29)

1 tbsp O Organics Tomato Paste ($1.25)

2 1/4 cups water

2 cups O Organics Rotini Pasta ($3.29)

1 cup O Organics Mozzarella cheese ($4.79)

Instructions:

1. Brown ground beef in a skillet, breaking it up as it cooks.

2. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and garlic powder

3. Add tomato paste, sauce and diced tomatoes to the skillet. Stir in water and bring to a light boil.

4. Add pasta to the skillet, ensuring it is well coated. Cover and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

5. Remove the lid, sprinkle with cheese and allow it to cool.

Americans see gardening changes as 'plant hardiness zones' shift across half the U.S. (3)O Organics tomato basil pasta sauce and extra virgin olive oil.via O Organics

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Americans see gardening changes as 'plant hardiness zones' shift across half the U.S. (2024)

FAQs

Americans see gardening changes as 'plant hardiness zones' shift across half the U.S.? ›

The hardiness level refers to a plant's ability to endure difficult conditions. "Most of the hardiness zones across the U.S. experienced a half-zone shift, meaning the coldest days of winter are about 5 F warmer over the period from 1991-2020 compared to the period between 1976-2005.

Have U.S. hardiness zones changed? ›

In November of 2023, the USDA updated its plant hardiness zone map for the first time since 2012 – not surprisingly, lots of places are warmer than they used to be. A full 63% of Mirimichi Green customers saw a half-zone change or more. Mirimichi Green produced a guide to help our users in updated USDA Hardiness Zones.

What are major influences on hardiness zones in the United States? ›

Sunlight, temperature, rainfall and soil type all help determine whether a plant will thrive or not. So, last November's release of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) new hardiness zone map is a big deal.

Are climate zones shifting? ›

Climate change is shifting ecological plant hardiness zones. The USDA has updated its Plant Hardiness Zone Map for the first time since 2012. Most of New York's Hudson Valley has shifted from Zone 5b to Zone 6a (see map below).

How does climate change affect gardening? ›

Plants may not get adequate rest in the dormant season. Fruit and nut trees may not get the chill hours they need for successful fruiting. Winter warm spells can encourage plants to leaf or bud out, only to be struck by frost before spring arrives. Plants will lose moisture faster.

What regions will be uninhabitable by 2050? ›

Study authors said much of Africa, parts of Central and South America and South Asia are “hot spots” for the worst harms to people and ecosystems.

How did our hardiness zone change from 1990 2015? ›

The new map reflects that many areas have become warmer since 1990 when the last USDA hardiness zone map was published. Significant portions of many states have shifted at least one full hardiness zone. Much of Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, for example, have shifted from Zone 5 to a warmer Zone 6.

How many hardiness zones are there in the United States? ›

The original and most widely used system, developed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as a rough guide for landscaping and gardening, defines 13 zones by long-term average annual extreme minimum temperatures.

What do the different zones mean in gardening? ›

The lower the number is, the lower the temperatures in that zone. Each zone represents ten degrees of temperature difference. Each zone is also divided into “a” and “b” segments. These represent five degrees of temperature difference. For example, zone 4 represents minimum temperatures between -30 to -20 degrees F.

Why are plant hardiness zones important? ›

Each plant's hardiness zone is based on its ability to adapt to local temperatures without harming or killing it. All plants thrive differently under different conditions so it's important to understand which plants do best in your area.

Is the dry line moving? ›

Their research confirmed that this divide is indeed real, as reflected by population and agriculture on opposite sides of the line. They also determined that this “dry line” appears slowly to be moving eastward thanks to the changing climate and will probably continue doing so in the coming decades.

Are we close to reversing climate change? ›

While the effects of human activities on Earth's climate to date are irreversible on the timescale of humans alive today, every little bit of avoided future temperature increases results in less warming that would otherwise persist for essentially forever.

Are we in a climate shift? ›

Global Temperature Is Rising

The planet's average surface temperature has risen about 2 degrees Fahrenheit (1 degrees Celsius) since the late 19th century, a change driven largely by increased carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere and other human activities.

How is climate change affecting plant hardiness zones? ›

Plant Hardiness Zones (PHZs) demonstrate the amount of stress plants can undergo from cold temperatures. Average annual minimum temperatures determine these zones. With winter temperatures rising, a trend expected to continue, plant hardiness zone are shifting.

Is home gardening good for the environment? ›

Home gardens fight pollution.

Plants are great at filtering and cleaning toxins from the air, the soil, and even the water. They even reduce noise pollution.

What is climate smart gardening? ›

Climate-smart gardening: Planting for present and future conditions using native species adapted to both current and future hardiness zones.

What is the difference between zone 7a and 7b? ›

Each USDA hardiness zone has 10 degrees of minimum average temperature difference and is divided into two sections, a and b. Zones 7a and 7b both have a medium-length growing season. Zone 7a's minimum average temperature is 0 to 5 degrees, and Zone 7b's minimum average temperature is 5 to 10 degrees.

Which is the only state in the USA that has Zone 1 on the hardiness zone map? ›

Conversely, isolated inland areas of Alaska have the coldest hardiness zone in the United States at 1a.

Did Ohio's hardiness zone change? ›

Changes to the Ohio map

On the revised 2023 map, about half of Ohio is in Zone 6b, where the average low temperature range is -5 to 0 degrees Fahrenheit. The other half of Ohio is now in Zone 6a, where the average low temperature range is -10 to -5 degrees Fahrenheit.

What is the difference between Zone 5 and Zone 6? ›

The temperatures for each zone are separated by a difference of 10°F. Zone 5 is 10° colder than Zone 6. Zone 4 is 10° colder than Zone 5 and so on.

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