Organic is one big ripoff. They use the crap instead of the chemicals the crap has to beak down into (plants can't use it as-is), and let the bugs and other critters have their share; less productive and efficient.
On a really large scale, yes-a major ripoff-and half the time it isn’t really “organic” it is just labeled that way-like the big organic farms supplying places like Whole Foods, etc-but I live in a rural area-no big box stores, no big factory farms, no feedlots-we grow our own organic produce and our livestock is free ranged-all on a very small scale, same as when I grew up on a ranch in W. Texas...
The small chain grocery store in town sells local produce as well as the stuff brought in from Cali-tourists buy that but locals usually don’t-it isn’t fresh as our locally produced stuff. If some neighbor doesn’t have mulch and a compost pile, one of us will share some for barter. You put compost on garden before Spring planting-it is already broken down, no waiting required. Then put mulch around the growing veggies in June-July to keep in the moisture-on a small scale it is very efficient and the food is chemical free...