Organic vegetables at a farmers market in Argentina.
Organic foods are made according to certain production standards meaning they are grown without the use of conventional pesticides and artificial fertilizers free from contamination by human or industrial waste and processed without ionizing radiation or food additives. 1 If livestock are involved they must be reared without the routine use of antibiotics and without the use of growth hormones and generally fed a healthy diet. In most countries organic produce may not be genetically modified.
Organic food production is a heavily regulated industry distinct from private gardening for instance. Currently the European Union the United States Canada Japan and many other countries require producers to obtain special certification in order to market food as organic within their borders.
Historically organic farms have been relatively small family-run farms 2 which is why organic food was once only available in small stores or farmers markets. However since the early 1990s organic food production has had growth rates of around 20% a year far ahead of the rest of the food industry in both developed and developing nations. As of April 2008 organic food accounts for 1-2% of food sales worldwide.
