Organic Foods In The United States

Every year, the average person in America consumes nearly a ton of food, and the majority of this consists of packaged and highly processed products. These foods also contain a substantial amount of unwanted fats and chemicals. The growing of organic versus nonorganic food has been a controversial issue for a long time among organic and nonorganic farmers and their customers. This is due to the myriad definitions of healthy eating and the stated benefits on both sides.

In a recent study done by Organic Farming Research Company, there are approximately 13,000 organic farms throughout the United States out of 2.1 million farms. In recent years more people are converting to buying strictly organic foods, but why? Steven Shapin answers this by writing “what are you buying when you buy organic?” In his article he explains the difference between organic foods and non-organic. People are becoming aware of the dangers and risk of non-organic produce and food and converting to strictly organic foods. Organic and non-organic foods can be compared by price, calories, how the produce is grown and even packaging. Location in the store is also a factor that can come into play.

Over the last few years, awareness of organic food has risen. Due to this, the demand for organic food is a factor which is influencing the farmers to switch to use this technique, and it is being sold in specialty stores and conventional supermarkets. Organic products contain numerous marketing claims that it is healthier, it offers more value, and the farming is more environmentally friendly than traditional foods, so, how does one determine if organic is the way to go? Some argue that there is evidence that supports and demonstrates why organic foods and farming are better overall, while others insist that conventional foods and agriculture can offer the same benefits as going organic. There is no right or wrong answer. Within this

As an alternative to the industrial food chain which is now prevail in the US, the organic food chain emphasis that “nature rather than the machine should supply the proper model for agriculture” (Pollan 131). The idea of “organic” is best demonstrated by farms that raise diversified species in a traditional way and target at the local market. However, most of the “organic food” people consume today is produced from the “industrial organic” farms which belong to the industrial food chain instead of the ideal organic food

With a growing world population of over seven billion, the high-producing agriculture industry is becoming detrimental to the environment by most commonly effecting the freshwater needs, soil quality, air pollution, energy consumption, the loss of habitat, and the health of the consumers. However, there is a solution to this problem that goes beyond just the nutritional facts: urban farming and mass organic food production. Food and the City by Jennifer Cockrall-King and Lentil Underground: Renegade Farmers and the Future of Food in America by Liz Carlisle explores the challenges and solutions to organic food production in the major cities and the midwest United States.

Pollan is referring to small organic farming. Authors and pioneers of the American agrarianism movement, J. I. Rodale, Sir Albert Howard, Aldo Leopold, Wes Jackson, Wendell Berry, and Louis Bromfield who believe in reforms that would make farming more sustainable and completely remove any synthetic additives from organic farming. This is significantly different from big organic agriculture that transports goods over long distances and carry out the same practices as industrial farming just using organic substitutes like organic corn and natural

In the world we live in today the population has increased to more than seven billion people with a life expectancy of seventy years old. As the years continue to progress this number is expected to double within twenty five to thirty years as it raises daily. Over the years, the agricultural field has changed dramatically. Most farmers and businesses who are specialize in food production utilize pesticides and hormones to mass produce the food we eat. While these processed are great for business, it is harmful for the human body. It is for this reason that people must be conscious about what they consume. As the inhabitants in America increase, the population of organic food decreases. Both, people and animals, had

The prediction of organic products’ market growth is from $6.5 billion in 1999 to $13.3 billion in 2003. Generally, there are few characteristics of shoppers who purchased organic products regardless of channel which are higher income, more educated person and mostly live in the Northeast and West. 46% of them bought organic products at the supermarket, 25% at a small health foods store and 29% at a natural foods supermarket. Organic dairy products were bought by 74% of heavy organic food buyers and 29% of light organic food buyers.

With the world’s population continuing to increase, the demand for food is higher than ever. This increase in food demand also calls for more efficient ways of growing and providing the food. Two methods that are very controversial are the organic and conventional method. While many people support the organic method because of its known benefits, others feel that it is an over inflated industry that cheats consumers out of their money. But recently many studies have disproved those critics. These studies prove that Organic food is a better choice than conventional because it is better for the environment, avoids the use of chemicals, and is generally more beneficial.

“Organic Foods: Health and Environmental Advantages and Disadvantage” describes that consumers suppose that farming organics is more benign to the environment since “organic farms do not use or release synthetic pesticides into the environment, some of which have the potential to harm soil.” Consumers get a sense of security knowing that their food is safe from toxins like pesticides, as well as a sense of responsibility for improving the earth’s welfare. This has become an increasingly important factor for purchasing organic foods, as the push for more environmentally friendly options has been increasingly prominent in this day and

As much as Americans always talk about getting fit and eating healthy, the majority are not able to afford those select foods. Many people see organic food as a big dollar sign. “For as long as I can remember, “organic” has been synonymous with affluence and conscious consumption”(McMillan).

Nowadays, people are more concern about the healthy lifestyles as well as the environmental sustainability. “If people believe that the food is healthier and they are doing something good for themselves, they are willing to invest a bit more, particularly as they get older” – as Hollie Shaw said. It can be seen that the market for organic and natural foods is a potential market: Organic foods and beverages were available in nearly every food category in 2014 and were available in over 90 percent of U.S. retail food stores (is used to be 75% in 2008). Food labeled “organic” accounted for about $35 billion across North America in

Do you really want to eat food that was unprotected while growing and vulnerable to pests? Organic foods are growing in popularity across the United States. Many nutrition and health studies have been conducted on them. Critics would say that organic foods are safer, but it is not a smart decision to purchase. Organic foods are expensive and no different from conventional foods quality wise.

Organic farming is becoming an increasingly popular market throughout the world. (Adam, 2004, p. 666). The aims of organic farming are, to decrease pollution, maintain soil fertility and biodiversity, be more sustainable, and have increased nutritional benefits than conventionally grown foods (Yaping et. al., 2003, p. 298). While the aim of conventional farming is to provide safe, proficient supplies of food, in abundance and at low prices (Trewavas, 2001, p.409). Since 1996, the amount of land in the UK dedicated to organic farming has risen tenfold (Adam, 2004, p. 666). As well, from 1992 to 1997, the amount of certified organic cropland in the US more than doubled (Tafel et al, 2007, p.182 ). The main difference between organic and

Ever since the Agricultural Revolution, farming has always been organic. As the human population grew, conventional farming, farming with non-organic methods (using synthetic fertilizers and pesticides), became prevalent to satisfy the population’s demand for food. Recently, organic farming has attracted consumers for its health, environmental, and agricultural benefits versus conventional farming, however, there is a debate whether organic farming can produce enough food to satisfy the current population of 7 billion people and future populations on Earth. Ed Hamer and Mark Anslow argue in “10 Reasons Why Organic Can Feed the World” that organic farming can produce enough food to satisfy today’s population, while D.J. Connor argues otherwise in “Organic Agriculture Cannot Feed the World”. Even though organic farming has plenty advantages over conventional farming, we should stick to improving conventional farming because the projections for organic farming that Hamer and Anslow use are misleading.