How popular are organic foods and why have they become a food trend?
Organic foods are growing in popularity as people are becoming more aware of the impact that their food choices have not only on their own personal health but also on the environment in which they live. Organic foods are the fastest growing segment of the food business in the United States. Currently, organic food is a 14 billion dollar business, expected to grow to 23 billion dollars in the next several years. They continue to increase in popularity not only because they do not contain the toxins found in conventionally grown foods but because of their nutritional value. Organic foods have traditionally been purchased because they do not contain the pesticide residue levels found on conventionally grown food. According to one study whose findings are based on pesticide residue data collected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, organic fruits and vegetables were shown to have only a third as many pesticide residues as their conventionally grown counterparts. Study data, which covere
