Organic Produce

As a relatively new industry, the organic food movement is a green alternative to more conventional food production. Organic food is believed by its advocates to be healthier, ecologically balanced, and free of pesticides. While quantity and mass production are the [Page 336]major concerns of nonorganic food producers, the major concern of organic food producers is quality. As the market for organic produce increased exponentially over the last few decades of the 20th century, confusion arose as to what precisely constitutes “organic” produce. To meet the needs of consumers, trade groups and government regulatory agencies have worked to define what organic produce is and provide special certification to protect consumers, and have conducted studies to ensure that organic farms are less damaging to the environment ...