About Organic Produce

Organic produce is good for the consumer and environment. Fruits and vegetables are grown without the aid of toxic pesticides or fertilizers and have been gaining in popularity over the last several years. If you want to grow a completely organic garden, make sure to start with organic seeds.

History

In the mid-twentieth century, a backlash against traditional farming techniques led the move to organic gardening. Farmers started choosing more natural gardening techniques, and organic gardening has become one of the fastest growing segments of the agriculture industry. The number of organic farms doubled from 2002 to 2005, and all 50 states have successful organic operations.

Identifying organics

The main certification comes from the United States Department of Agriculture. The organic guidelines followed by the USDA are a set of rules that establishes standards. For example, fields grown without chemical pesticides and fertilizers must be free of these chemicals for at least three straight growing seasons before they can receive organic certification. 

Finding organic produce

Several grocery stores now carry organic produce. Research organic farm locations online with Local Harvest, a non-profit organization that catalogs organic farms all over the country. Their website features maps and guides to organic location, as well as links to locations. Some farms offer consumer vegetables for an entire season using a share program, where the consumer pays a set dollar amount for fresh vegetables all through the growing season, then picks a box for them specifically from the farmer on a weekly basis.