U.S. organic food industry gaining support

As organic food sales in the U.S. continue to grow, what can government and the consumer do to support a "renaissance" in the sector?

By Ellie Duncan | Thu Jun 4, 2009

According to the Organic Trade Association, organic food sales totalled $17 billion in 2006, a figure that continues to grow.

However, supporters and companies within the sector feel that the U.S. government could and should do more to encourage consumers to buy organic produce.

Speaking to Zak Zaidman, Founder of Kopali Organics, he says that the country is seeing the "beginning of reconnecting with where our food comes from". However, he is the first to admit that the sector has a long way to go.

"Even something as simple as the fact that the White House has an organic garden now; there's this connection between where our food is grown," Zaidman adds.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

In March 2003, an article called 'Organic Food for Thought' was published by Environmental Health Perspectives. It reported on a survey conducted by the University of Washington which studied 39 pre-school children.

Concerned with the effects of food sprayed with organophosphorus (OP) pesticides on children's health, the survey discovered that children who consumed organic fruits, vegetables and juices had "significantly lower OP pesticide exposure" than those who consumed conventional foods.

The survey concluded that consuming organic produce could shift children's OP pesticide exposure from "a range of uncertain risk" to "a range of negligible risk", as defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's guidelines.

Not only that, but chronic low-level exposure to OP pesticide may affect neurological functioning, neurodevelopment and growth in children.

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

Zaidman supports the theory that the chemicals used in agriculture today are potentially harmful, even cancer-causing.

"I think if there is a future for humanity, then one day all food will be grown safely," he explains. "Our commitment from the start was to connect these two pieces: the farmers and the conscious consumers.

"If I had to say anything the government should do, stop supporting the wrong kind of agriculture and, yes, of course, it would be great if they supported organic agriculture and created a fair playing field."