Organic food used to be sold off the back of a truck by long-haired men and women in overalls and sandals. Now it's a $6 billion industry. And the Food Marketing Institute reports that 42 percent of mainstream markets carry organic produce.
Many health-conscious shoppers wonder whether it's worth paying the premium prices often charged for organic products.
Individual studies on the Nutritional Value of Organic Food are inconclusive. There's no evidence that organic foods are more nutritious, but some studies indicate that organically grown foods contain less pesticide residue than conventionally grown ones.
Cascadian Farm, an organic food producer, says most organic food studies have focused on the vitamin and mineral content of a specific food. In order to understand whether eating organic foods over the long term is more healthful, it suggests researchers look at the relative healthfulness of eating an organic foods diet.
In the meantime, consumers are enjoying organic foods for their flavor, perceived purity and because they find satisfaction in supporting chemical-free, sustainable farming methods. "The taste and naturalness of organic foods make them my first choice," says Michele Lamy, whose Los Angeles restaurant Les Deux Cafes serves a variety of organic foods.
An ABC News Survey found that 49 percent of Americans believe organic food is worth the price. That percentage shot up to 65 percent among people who actually eat organic -- 46 percent of 1,041 adults surveyed by telephone in 1999.
You can get reasonably priced organic foods at farmers' markets. The U.S. Department of Agriculture counts more than 2,800 of them all across the country.
Another source is community supported agriculture. These farming cooperatives consist of members who pay a monthly fee for weekly delivery of fresh organic produce. Because they're buying in bulk and effectively supporting a farmer's business, they get a price break. Find a CSA farm near you online.
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