The Origins of Organic Foods

Today organic foods only account for about 2% ofbefore the introduction of commercial farming and
all food production. That is very low but expertschemicals to help them get large yields without the
believe that the future looks very good for it. Moreheadaches of weeds and pests.
consumers are taking an interest in buying organicThe main significance though is that what someone
foods all the time. Grocery stores and farm marketscan grow on their own and consider to be organic in
are trying to keep up with the demand out there fornature may not pass the guidelines for them to be
such items as well. They want to supply consumerssold commercially as so. The USDA is responsible for
with what they are after so that they won’t dosetting the strict standards for organic foods. They
their shopping someplace else.have to be met again and again with regular
You may be wondering where the idea of organicinspections in order to continue that verification being
foods started and how it has grown over time.offered. One of the very strict guidelines for organic
Organic foods were the brainstorm of small farmersfood is what can be used for compost.
that wanted to offer great tasting food without theIt isn’t really known where in the world that idea
chemical process. They used only natural ingredientsof organic food processing really took place. It seems
to be able to do this. Initially they only grew enoughthat the idea was going on in many countries all
food for them to feed their families. From there theabout the same time. What has changed though is
idea was to sell extras at roadside farm markets.the process for it. Even so, it is still one that requires
Today there are larger farmers out there offeringplenty of people to take care of what needs to be
organic foods that you can buy at most grocerydone.
stores as well.A great deal of money is made through the sales of
The decision to stay away from chemicals occurredorganic foods though. This is part of why so many
back in the 1970’s. This was when many peoplefarmers are getting on board. They do want to offer
were involved in the peace movements. Instead ofpeople something better to eat and clean up the
working for other people they had large coloniesenvironment. They also know that consumers are
where they would grow their own food and takelooking strongly at organic foods. They want to
care of the needs of those in them. Thesemake sure they offer it so that they don’t lose
communities also wanted to keep the world cleanmoney with their conventional methods of farming
and to avoid consuming products that weren’tthat are in place right now.
good for them. As those movements ended theirRegardless of the origins of organic foods, they have
ideas stayed strong.changed the way that we will have such items
It is believed that this process was in place in the lateproduced in the future. They are going to be better
1980’s but didn’t really take off until thefor people due to the lack of chemical residue. The
1990’s. However, if you really think about itfact that more people are trying to eat healthy
organic farming is simply getting back to the basics.means that this can help them to have a great
That is how farming was done in the early dayslifestyle now and into the future.