A Harvest Market in Connecticut (photo courtesy of Library of Congress, circa 1941)

The rapid growth of demand for organic food has been a phenomenon for many years now. Americans are expected to consume more than $15 billion worth of organic food in 2007. People have been buying organic to avoid pesticides, enjoy fresh produce, and encourage farming in an eco-friendly manner.

The early farmers who served the organic consumers tended to run relatively small, family farms. People loved the idea that they could buy healthy food from an organic farmer and help sustain the livelihoods of the people who produced the food. Early devotees of organic fare were willing to pay more for food that was more satisfying physically and emotionally.

Now a growing number of folks are concerned that the mass production of organics may not be as environmentally friendly as they'd like it to be. A lot of fossil fuel has to be burned to truck produce over a 1,000 miles and a movement toward buying food produced locally has emerged. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has an article on the growing trend for buying local. According to the article,

As the organic movement continues its march toward the mainstream, a journey that includes feedlots that house thousands of dairy cows, produce imported from China and even organic Pam cooking spray, it is losing some of its earliest followers. They have embraced eating locally, buying from small, nearby farms that use sustainable growing practices and need less fuel to transport crops. Studies estimate food travels an average of 1,500 miles from farm to table.

If you'd like to read the article in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution go to: Eat local movement competes with organic craze