Buying produce: Organic or regular?

In an ideal world, organic produce would be free. But I'd be happy with it being the same price as regular produce. Since we know this isn't the case, you sometimes have to pick and choose what's really important to spend the extra money on. Luckily there are some resources out there to help. Let's start with a few basics, first:
What does "organic" mean, anyway? Organic produce and other ingredients are grown without the use of pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, genetically modified organisms, or ionizing radiation. Animals that produce meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products do not take antibiotics or growth hormones. The USDA National Organic Program (NOP) adds that organic food is "produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations. " This sounds like something that I don't mind paying a little extra for...
How do I know if something is organic? Read the packaging and look for the USDA organic label. Note that the USDA seal isn't on ALL packaging though; its use is voluntary.
100% Organic: Products with this label are made with 100% organic ingredients
Organic: Made with at least 95% organic ingredients
Made With Organic Ingredients: Made with a minimum of 70% organic ingredients with strict restrictions on the remaining 30% including no GMOs (genetically modified organisms)
Is organic really any better for me? There is currently no definitive research that makes this claim, but researchers at UC Davis recently found that organic tomatoes had higher levels of phytochemicals and vitamin C than conventional tomatoes. Personally, I like knowing that what I'm eating isn't covered in chemicals or pumped full of hormones. Another consideration is that organic farming reduces the loading of contaminants in our water sources from runoff. The US Geological Service published a report that's worth checking out.
Does organic food taste any better? It depends who you ask. Personally, I've noticed a huge difference between regular and organic Dole bananas. I'm not a huge banana fan, but have been eating the Dole organic ones non-stop since I discovered them.
What if I can't afford to buy everything organic? Prioritize! Download the Environmental Working Group's wallet guide to organic produce, which ranks produce by pesticide load. The top 10 offenders are (in order): peaches, apples, sweet bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, lettuce, & imported grapes.
Happy Shopping!