In 2008, the sale of organic products of any nature surged 17%, resulting in sales of about $25 billion. The Organic Sector, which includes not only food, but also organic fibers, personal care products and pet foods, saw a strong increase in consumption year over year. The largest upswing in organic demand came from the non-food category, which grew by 39.4 percent.
The growth of the Organic Sector has been attributed to two different things. First, there are the consumers who are committed to buying organic no matter the additional cost, as they see the products health benefits as a counterbalance to the higher price tag. The second reason involves the growing availability of organic brands found in major grocery chains. This influx of organic options has helped to bring prices, making them more competitive with the traditional offerings.
The Obama Administration has also done a good deal to help out organics, as the First Lady made headlines by planting an organic garden on the South Lawn of the White House. Along with helping to increase exposure for the benefits of organic fare, the Administration has plans for an extensive survey of organic farming later this year. In addition, the United States Department of Agriculture’s deputy secretary of Agriculture, Kathleen Merrigan, has a long record of advocating for organic and local food, and has introduced a new $50 million dollar program to encourage organic farming.
This is an important development for the health of the entire country, as in recent decades big agriculture has flooded the food market with synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, as well as genetically modified seeds. These technological advances may make their process more efficient, however the chemicals and fossil fuels used in the process are obviously harmful to the environment and soil, and have never been fully tested on humans. In contrast, there are many indications that the organic produce is healthier, and contains significantly less pesticide residue.
