Organic products must be grown without the use of most synthetic chemical pesticides and fertilizers. Land must be free of synthetic pesticides for at least three years. All organic food must be minimally processed and free from artificial ingredients, preservatives or irradiation. The use of sewage sludge for fertilizer and genetic engineering are prohibited. At this time, voluntary standards are enforced by private certifying agencies.
Standards are even more important as marketers see an opportunity.
The US organic food industry represents about 1.5 percent of domestic food sales but it has grown by 20 percent each year since 1990. Some consumers remain put off by the generally higher prices which can range from 20 to 50 percent. All rights reserved .