| Farming practices used before the 1900's are | | | | All of this though begs the questions - why |
| classed as organic. It was only after this | | | | can't farmers just grow food without |
| that added chemicals such as urea and DDT | | | | chemicals at all, why does it need |
| were brought into farming - previous to this, | | | | regulation, and why were chemicals introduced |
| farmers didn't have the knowledge and simply | | | | into grown food and other consumables in the |
| put, were happy enough with things as they | | | | first place; I think you already know the |
| were; as most of us today would be. After | | | | answer though, and that's money. |
| all, home grown food is often the nicest, | | | | |
| most tasty food we put on our plates. | | | | In this modern technological age where |
| | | | farmers are in direct competition between |
| For some reason, during the 1960's and 1970's | | | | each other to gain the bigger contracts of |
| the concept of organic food became a separate | | | | the supermarkets and other food retailers, |
| entity to the 'normal' food we were then | | | | they have to be cheap. They simply can't grow |
| buying. Consumers had been effectively duped | | | | the vegetables (for example) as fast as the |
| into believing that what they were buying, | | | | grocery store can sell them, so they have to |
| was food as nature intended, it not | | | | resort to other methods to keep up, or did do |
| appreciating that the chemicals which were | | | | at least until the consumers voice began to |
| added during growth of the 'normal stuff' | | | | ring out strong and true. |
| were what actually made the food abnormal in | | | | |
| the first place. | | | | Organic food is no longer a small niche in |
| | | | the food desires of Americans; it is becoming |
| Rachel Carson, a prominent writer, biologist | | | | what everyone wants. Everyone now wants and |
| and ecologist established public awareness of | | | | feels the need to eat in a more healthy |
| these issues via 'Silent Spring', a book she | | | | fashion with the onset of so many new medical |
| wrote which basically brought about major | | | | conditions which prove costly as it is; a |
| controversy on the use of agricultural | | | | little more expense to eat something grown |
| chemicals and synthetic pesticides in | | | | without strong use of chemicals (which could |
| particular. As a direct result of this book, | | | | 'theoretically' make it worse) might mean a |
| and the growing concern over the use of farm | | | | saving health-wise instead. |
| chemicals which consumers were suddenly more | | | | |
| aware of, chemical regulation procedures were | | | | The organic food trend of today is growing |
| put into place, and when the demand for | | | | ever-stronger, and not just for vegetables |
| organically grown food rose, so did the need | | | | even though at one point organic purchases |
| for further regulatory procedures to cut down | | | | totalled over 40% of all organic buys. Meat |
| on the ecologically destructive and toxic | | | | and fish which is organically produced is |
| chemicals. | | | | still at the lowest of all food purchases, |
| | | | but is moving up the chain too. Dairy, bread |
| Today, organic food is finally reaching an | | | | and grain, beverages and snacks are all |
| all time high of acceptance from consumers, | | | | becoming more and more popular. |
| so its demand is increasing - more | | | | |
| 'organically acceptable' agricultural | | | | Today there are more Organic supermarkets |
| procedures are gaining momentum, and it seems | | | | popping up everywhere, sometimes in certain |
| even though it is more expensive than | | | | areas more than others - almost as though |
| chemically treated foodstuffs, it is | | | | people in one state are more 'organic' than |
| healthier, and it is that health factor which | | | | others but on the whole it is more of a |
| is winning the battle against chemically | | | | blanket change than just a few people trying |
| treated consumables. | | | | to eat in a healthier way, the amount of |
| | | | people eating organically is far more |
| A creation of a whole new set of ideas about | | | | substantial than most realize. Suddenly |
| organic standards which first came into | | | | people have more choice, and this is |
| debate in 1990, took over ten years to refine | | | | obviously because the demand is there. The |
| to relative perfection, and they will still | | | | world is finally going organic, and with any |
| evolve as new practices come into force. It | | | | luck the bigger grocery store chains will |
| is by these standards now that, organic food | | | | have to meet this demand, rather than flood |
| and other products such as wool in the USA is | | | | the market with low-cost chemically treated |
| grown/gathered. | | | | alternatives. |
| | | | |