Organic produce market grows, but debate continues. Is it worth the price?

Chicago Tribune, Kerry Neville
Published May 30, 2006

A few years ago, buying organic meant a special trip to stores such as Whole Foods Market or hunting down the lone organic grower at the farmers market. Now, nearly every traditional grocer is expanding its organic produce selections. Not surprisingly, health-conscious Baby Boomers--particularly those aged 45 to 54--are fueling the buying trend, according to the Organic Trade Association. Although the organic contribution of total produce sales is small, at just 5.5 percent, produce grabs the biggest market share (41 percent) of all organic foods sold. Sales topped $5 billion in 2005. A recent study from the Food Marketing Institute, a trade association for the retail food industry, reported that consumers buy organic because they believe foods are more nutritious and free of pesticides. But is organic produce more healthful? It depends on who you talk to. Organic produce contains fewer pesticides than conventionally grown fruits and vegetables but some experts question whether it makes a difference in terms of healthfulness. Ron Gardner, senior extension associate at Cornell University, doesn't think so. "Farmers are not out there using pesticides just because they're available--they use them wisely and when necessary," he said. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) closely monitors pesticides and health risk, Gardner said, and there is no evidence to suggest that the minute amount of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables are causing any health-related problems. That's true, said Bob Scowcroft, executive director of the Organic Farming Research Foundation--"but not having evidence also is not proof that pesticide residues are safe. We just don't know." The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a non-profit research organization based in Washington, D.C., reported that the combined effects of even low-level pesticide exposures from multiple sources is worrisome and has not been fully studied. Read the full article at www.chicagotribune.com