October 12, 2006

The Organic Trend

In the past few years organic foods have become increasingly popular. While critics argue that the price for organic foods is higher and that many consumers cannot afford them, this is still a growing industry. U.S. consumer demand is driving the organic movement ahead at a 20% annual rate of market growth. In 1995 there were 914,800 organic acres in the US and in 1997 an estimated 1.5 million acres, accounting for a jump of more than 60% in only two years.

A related aspect is the amount of money that actually reaches the farmer. At present, large-scale farms receive about 20% of the supermarket retail price, while the remaining 80% is absorbed in food distribution, processing, transport, packaging and marketing. The organic argument maintains that through decentralization of products (family farm versus factory farm) and the development of local and regional markets, the farmer would receive more money for the product and this would further aid in improving production.

Whatever the case may be the organic movement has been around for over 80 years, traced back to England as a reaction against large-scale agriculture, when farmers began to speak out against an assortment of agricultural innovations. And at this time, it looks like this trend continues and is here to stay.