by Charlotte Howard

Created on: October 10, 2009   Last Updated: October 16, 2009

The term "organic food" means food that is grown using naturally-found organisms and carbon-based compounds without the aid of chemically-manufactured pesticides or genetic modification. Throughout the world, the sale of food grown organically counts for nearly 2% of all food sales. The Pittsburgh Post Gazette website states that "The U.S. organic food market generated about $13.8 billion in sales last year." Most people are buying organic food simply because we are told that it is healthier for us, without knowing the actual benefits.

Health

Whilst nutritional content has been found to stay the same in food produced organically as it would if grown conventionally, it is thought that organic food is healthier due to the lack of pesticides used. The chemicals used to grow conventional fruits and vegetables are strong enough to kill insects and weeds. This is not to say that conventional foods are unhealthy, just that organically-grown produce will not produce unwanted side effects such as mild diarrhea. The website Organic Facts states "Recent research conducted on organic milk has shown that it has more anti-oxidants, omega 3, CLA, and vitamins than non-organic milk."

Taste

It has not yet been scientifically proven that organic foods taste better than non-organic foods, but many people surveyed have said that they prefer the taste of organic vegetables and meat. It is known that free-range chickens fed on an all-natural diet have a longer life than those produced on a battery farm. The simple nature of freedom and a better quality of feed is thought to improve the flavor of the meat and eggs.

Local Markets

Organically-grown foods are usually found at local markets rather than being exported to other countries. This is simply because organic food does not have the preservatives to help it last longer than conventional foods. Due to this, one of the benefits of organic food is helping the local economy thrive. Many farmers now opt to farm organically and conventionally in order to boost their range of products.

Environment

Pesticides used in non-organic farming are known to be absorbed into the soil, which can be transported into the water system, affecting the local environment. Organic farming is better for the environment as they only use naturally-found compounds to fertilize and feed their stock which means that no artificial and possibly dangerous chemicals can be transmitted into the outside surroundings. There is also less waste produced by an organic

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