Organic food refers to food items that are produced, processed and packaged without using chemicals. Organic food is increasingly becoming popular due to its perceived health benefits over conventional food. The industry is growing at a rate of over 30% since the past five years and has caught the attention of farmers, manufacturers and, above all, consumers.

The organic revolution is a global phenomenon witnessed in every part of the world including the US (specially California, New York, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Virginia and Pennsylvania), Canada, Mexico, Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Australia, New Zealand, China, India, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey, Argentina, Brazil, Chile and South Africa. These regions are important production as well as demand centers.

Popular organic food items include organic tea, organic coffee, organic wine, organic meat, organic beef, organic milk, organic honey, organic vegetables, organic fruits, organic rice, organic corn, organic herbs, organic essential oils, organic coconut oil and organic olive oil.

But the organic concept is not limited to food items. Due to excessive usage of harmful chemicals in cosmetics, people are turning towards organic cosmetics also . One can often see organic skin care products, organic shampoos, organic soaps, and organic make up products on the shelves of organic stores.

Organic cotton clothing, especially organic baby clothing is also a growing market. Parents prefer to pay a higher premium to protect the skin of their babies from rashes caused by the chemicals used in textiles.

Since organic food costs about 20% more than conventional food, many people also prefer to grow organic food in their home gardens. The conventional gardening is being replaced by organic gardening which uses organic seeds, organic fertilizers, compost, organic root stimulator’s, and organic pest control.

Organic farming is also a viable means of sustainance for small farmers in the developing countries. Most of the organic fertilizers and pesticides requirement can be met through on-farm and local production. Hence, organic farming does not involve huge capital investments in buying fertilizers and pesticides. Small farmers, therefore, find organic farming beneficial.

For more information visit  www.organicfacts.net