Future Trajectory of the Organic Industry

Will the Organic industry continue its growth?

The organic food movement in America has grown tremendously in the last twenty years and is still expected to grow. In a recent Washington Times article, the author Adam Omkara, writes, "The organic fruits & vegetables will continue to dominate till 2018 and with the growth in organic food market revenues, the demand for organic meat, fish, poultry, etc. is also expected to gain demand in the forecasted period" (Omkara). In my work as a private chef, most of my clients only want me to purchase organic ingredients since they believe it is healthier for the body and for the environment. The price for organic food is more expensive, sometimes 10 to 20 percent more expensive than conventional food. If prices stay where they are currently, access to organic food will only be in the hands of the

In an article published on PubMed Central, the authors explain there are primary benefits and secondary benefits of pesticide use. A primary benefit would include the vast increase of grain production as a results of using pesticides. "Food grain production, which stood at a mere 50 million tons in 1948–49,had increased almost fourfold to 198 million tons by the end of 1996–97 from an estimated 169 million hectares of permanently cropped land"(Aktar, Sengupta, & Chowdhury). The increase in food production has helped combat hunger around the world especially in third world counties. A secondary benefit, would be the impact of higher yielding crops has on the local economy. "For example the higher cabbage yield might bring additional revenue that could be put towards children 's education or medical care, leading to a healthier, better educated population"(Aktar, Sengupta, & Chowdhury). In a farming community, the success of the economy is therefore directly related to the use of