About Organic Vegetables

Organic farming and organic foods have been gaining popularity in the United States and all over the world. Because organic vegetables are grown using no chemical pesticides or fertilizers, there are both health and environmental benefits.

History

The move towards organic agriculture began in the mid-twentieth century as a backlash against the tide of modern agricultural practices. Organic farmers moved away from the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers, opting for a more natural farming technique.

Growing Popularity

Organic farming is one of the fastest growing segments of the agriculture industry in the United States. From 2002 to 2005 the amount of organic farms in the United States doubled, and there are organic farms in all 50 states.

Identifying Organic Vegetables

There are several different ways that produce can be certified organic, but the main certification is from the United States Department of Agriculture. Other well-known organic certifying entities, such as Oregon Tilth, are required to use these standards to certify organic products.

USDA Certification Guidelines

Released in 2002, the USDA organic guidelines have a set of rules involving fields where organic produce is grown free of chemical pesticides or fertilizers for three straight growing seasons before the certification can be applied.

Finding Organic Vegetables

Many mainstream grocery stores carry a small amount of organic produce, but if your grocery store does not carry any organic brands, you can investigate local farms using Local Harvest, a not-for-profit that catalogs farms all over the country.

References

• Oregon Tilth: Standards and Regulations
• USDA National Organic Program
• Oregon Tilth: USDA Standards

Resources

• Local Harvest