| Eating organic food was once thought to be an | | | | When buying organic food, you can very often |
| eccentric, fringe activity, associated with people of | | | | buy direct from the producer, and the public |
| a hippie disposition. If someone tried to promote | | | | enjoy that connection which used to be the norm, |
| it, they risked the accusation of being a crank. But | | | | in years gone by. Sometimes, the lack of |
| times have changed. Foot and Mouth Disease, | | | | knowledge amongst children, about where their |
| E.coli and Mad Cow Disease have prompted a lot | | | | food actually comes from is quite startling. |
| of people to go down the organic road. It has | | | | Urbanization and mass production has put our |
| become increasingly trendy over recent years to | | | | food into convenient packaging, but reduced our |
| adopt the organic lifestyle, it's a booming industry, | | | | sense of nature providing for us. With the |
| which looks like getting bigger and bigger. The | | | | increased reliance on prepared meals, this distance |
| absolute rules, that have to be abided by, | | | | from the source of food is even more apparent. |
| governing organic produce is a reassuring comfort | | | | In the USA, the use of pesticides and fertilizers |
| for many people. Celebrities such as Jade Jagger | | | | were blamed for polluting the water and there |
| and Madonna are known enthusiasts. Of course, | | | | was panic over energy levels in the 1970's, |
| going organic is simply going back to the way | | | | resulting in the growing movement away from |
| things used to be. Whether you're a meat eater | | | | intensive methods. The question was asked, what |
| or a vegetarian or indeed, a vegan, the principles | | | | are we reaping from what we sow? |
| of eating organically can be followed. Meats, fruit | | | | Regulations covering the use of pesticides were |
| and vegetables, pulses, baked goods and even | | | | introduced. This decade saw the growers properly |
| beer and wine are all readily available in organic | | | | organize themselves and government began |
| form. | | | | setting standards for the new phenomena. |
| In the past, organic food had to be searched for | | | | Research into natural farming practice flourished. |
| and the only outlets were specialty and natural | | | | The 1980's saw many farmers facing financial ruin, |
| food shops. Nowadays, it's easy. Supermarkets | | | | and some managed to save themselves by |
| have responded to public demand and most carry | | | | converting to organic crops. Their economic |
| a good stock of products. You can also buy at | | | | motives fitted neatly into the premium prices paid |
| farmer's markets and from numerous online | | | | in the growing market. |
| sources, delivered to your door. | | | | It's been a long battle for organic food to be |
| The Second World War and its impact on food | | | | accepted, and to enter the mainstream. You do |
| shortages in the United Kingdom is a major cause | | | | have to pay more, but the gap in prices between |
| of the dependence on chemical methods used | | | | organic and non-organic is getting better. It's easy |
| there. Following the war, farmers were given | | | | to wallow in a nostalgic idyll of hardy farm |
| subsidies and the prices they got were | | | | laborers doing everything by hand, assisted only |
| guaranteed and took no account of world market | | | | by good earth and sunshine. But everything has a |
| prices. Traditionally, farming had been mixed but it | | | | price and cost has always been a factor. Families |
| developed into the intensive variety we know | | | | living on a budget may be keen to follow a |
| today. These new subsidies did away with the | | | | principle but not convinced enough to spend more. |
| need to produce a range of crops, which used to | | | | During the 1990's and into the 21st century, |
| insure against poor harvests and fluctuating prices | | | | standards have been tightened up further, and |
| in the world market. | | | | the future looks rosy for the organic movement. |