ThirdAge Staff
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 Roganic 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
Canadian 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.
