Organic Food History and Current Trends

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