Fresh Carrots & Coriander (photo by Scott Liddell, courtesy of morguefile.com)

Families across America remain concerned about the threat pesticides, hormones, and antibiotics pose to their health, but tough economic times are making many hesitant to pay premium prices for organic food.

The desire to feed their families the most healthful fare has combined with concerns about the effect of large-scale factory farming on the environment to make organics a $20 billion business in the U.S. According to some sources the annual rate of growth over past years has been an astonishing 24% or more, but an Associated Press article published by Yahoo! says the growth rate is likely to slip to 18% over the next several years.

According to the AP article:

Market research firm NPD Group said the number of people who reported buying organic products fell 4 percent in August, compared with a year earlier. While more than one in five surveyed in the latest figures available from NPD purchased organic products, the August data represented the first customer losses for the sector since February 2006 -- a decline that is expected to accelerate in the months ahead.

It is lamentable when people are faced with a choice between buying the healthiest food for their kids and staying within the family budget. Still, there are plenty of businesses that would envy the growth of sustainable food sales. That should be good news for family farmers and a healthier and more sustainable food system.

If you’d like to read the Associated Press article cited above go to: Appetite for organic food wilts as economy suffers