Organic means food is grown without bug killer, pesticides, hormones, antibiotics or biotechnology. Organic food is a growing market sector. Despite the fact that there are no official claims of better quality, consumers perceive organic foods as being more nutritious, more environmentally friendly, healthier and better tasting than conventional foods.
   Are organic foods healthier than non organic foods? It would appear that they are although no long term human studies are available to confirm our educated guess. Organic foods may have a higher content of beneficial substances, and are less likely to carry pesticides and body toxins.

Consumers and Organic Foods
There have been many studies regarding what influences consumers in their decisions to purchase or consume organic foods. These show a discrepancy between attitudes and behavior with people being positive about organic foods but often not purchasing them. This discrepancy seems to be explained by the fact that some consumers do not consider "organically produced" to be an important purchase criterion, that organic foods are not perceived to surpass conventional foods regarding taste and shelf life (two qualities rated to be of great importance), and because of the perceived premium prices of organic foods at organic health food stores. The high prices of organic foods is often the major deterrent specially for those on fixed budgets. Availability and distribution of organic foods is are other major reasons why consumers have not increased their use of organic produce. However, this is gradually changing, and even major outlets such as Wal-Mart are beginning to realize the potential of organic foods.
     In addition, there is a gradual increase in the number of organic food restaurants cropping up across major cities in the USA.

Organic produce
Organic vegetables and fruits are most likely healthier for you. For instance, two flavonoids - quercetin and kaempferol - are found in higher amounts in organic tomatoes. However there is a dispute in the scientific community on this matter. In September of 2007, The Institute of Food Technologists updated its Scientific Status Summary on organic foods. They say, "While many studies demonstrate . . . qualitative differences between organic and conventional foods, it is premature to conclude that either food system is superior to the other with respect to safety or
nutritional composition. Pesticide residues, naturally occurring toxins, nitrates, and polyphenolic compounds exert their health risks or benefits on a dose-related basis, and data do not yet exist to ascertain whether the differences in the levels of such chemicals between organic foods and conventional foods are of biological significance." Organic foods. Journal of Food Science 71:E117-R124, 2006. Winter CK, David SF.
   Comments: I will respectfully disagree that organic foods are not healthier, but I await for more research to be more confident in my opinion.

Can you tell the difference between organic foods and normally grown foods?
Sensory analysis of organically and conventionally grown vegetables and fruits have yielded inconsistent results.
Various confounding production and post-harvest factors can affect taste and other quality aspects of organic and conventional produce. These include the effects of cultivar, fertilization, soils and microclimates, handling, storage and processing. A study examined differences in taste between organic and conventionally grown lettuces, spinach, rocket, mustard greens, tomatoes, cucumbers and onions, using carefully controlled, replicated experimental production systems and consumer tests. No significant differences in overall liking, or for intensity of flavor and bitterness, were found in most vegetables tested.
   Comments: Even though a consumer may not notice a difference in taste in organically grown foods versus conventionally grown foods, this does not mean that the health benefits of organic foods are less.

Even Wal-Mart going organic?
America’s appetite for organic food is so strong that supply just can’t keep up with demand. Organic products still have only a tiny slice, about 2.5 percent, of the nation’s food market. But the slice is expanding at a feverish pace. Growth in sales of organic food has been 15 percent to 21 percent each year, compared with 2 percent to 4 percent for total food sales. Mainstream supermarkets, eyeing the success of organic retailers such as Whole Foods, have rushed to meet demand. The Kroger Co., Safeway Inc. and SuperValu Inc., which owns Albertson’s LLC, are among those selling their own organic brands. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said it would double its organic offerings.
     Wal-Mart Stores Inc. wants to be the mass-market provider of organic food, and plans to double its organic offerings. The retailer has no intention of becoming an organic food store, but wants to make organic food accessible to all. Wal-Mart said in March, 2006 that they are planning to double their SKU (stock keeping unit) count. The move comes as Wal-Mart, the world's biggest retailer, is bringing in more upscale merchandise in the hope of getting shoppers to buy more than just the basics. Wal-Mart is the top U.S. grocery seller and also number one in organic milk sales. It carries organic baby food, juice, produce and pasta sauce, but will be expanding its offerings to include products ranging from pickles to macaroni and cheese.

Organic Farming and Agriculture
A potential advantage of organic farming in producing healthy foods is based on higher concentrations of beneficial secondary plant substances in organically grown crops compared to non organically grown crops. However, with some foods it may not make too much of a difference if it is grown organically or non organically. For instance, is organic coffee better than coffee grown by regular means? I don't know. On the other hand, organic meat or beef seems particularly healthier than meat from cattle grown on non organic pastures.
     The number of organic farms — an estimated 10,000 in the USA — is increasing, but not fast enough. As a result, organic manufacturers are looking for ingredients outside the United States in places like Europe, Bolivia, Venezuela and South Africa.

Animals Fed Organic Food
Animal feeding experiments indicate that animal health and reproductive performance are slightly improved when they are organically fed.

Organic gardening
Using organic fertilizer while organic farming is gradually becoming more widespread, but it is not widespread enough at this time.

Organic Food questions
Q. My family practices organic living. Would you recommend a baby to have organic baby food?
     A. I think it is a good idea to minimize the exposure of babies to foods that have pesticides and toxins, hence organically grown baby food is a great option.