| The word "organic" may appear on packages of | | | | Organic farming is one of the fastest growing |
| meat, cartons of milk or eggs, cheese and other | | | | segments of the U.S. Gardening organically is |
| single-ingredient foods. Certified organic requires | | | | much more than what you don't do. In fact, sales |
| the rejection of synthetic agrochemicals, irradiation | | | | of organics have surged more than 20 percent |
| and genetically engineered foods or ingredients. | | | | each year in the past decade. In terms of number |
| Literally, of course, the term is a redundancy: all | | | | of farms, acreage and value of production, the |
| food is composed of organic chemicals (complex | | | | organic food industry is growing at a rate of |
| chemicals containing carbon). Any materials used in | | | | 20-30% per year. As commodity programs are |
| the production or processing of organic food must | | | | eliminated, more farmers have discovered that |
| be proven safe. Awareness is growing about the | | | | organic production is a legitimate and economically |
| value of organic foods. But, whether organic | | | | viable alternative enterprise. The growth in the |
| chicken or pesticide-free lettuce represents | | | | number of organic farmers has increased steadily, |
| "healthier" alternatives has long been a subject for | | | | similar to the growth of the U.S. |
| debate. | | | | |