Organic food is grown without chemicals or additives.

Organic food is grown or produced without chemicals and has no artificial added ingredients. If you have shopped for fruit and vegetables at a supermarket recently, you might have noticed that more and more food is marked "organic." Some health-food stores started selling organic food as far back as the 1960s, but it wasn't until the last decade or so that it became something you could find in most supermarkets. Some chain stories, like Whole Foods, sell mostly organic products. Sales of organic food are growing very fast. And recently, some people are also trying to buy more food items that are grown locally. Do you understand why?

Of course, years ago, all food grown on U.S. farms was organic. Crops were grown using tender loving care, sunlight, water, and natural fertilizers. But farming changed in the middle of the 20th century as scientists developed ways to increase the amount that farms could produce by using chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Pesticides kill the insects that feed on plants. These chemicals made fruit and vegetables grow larger and faster than ever, and helped to guard against crop damage. Many family farms were replaced by huge "factory farms." This allowed more food to be produced for less money. But some people think we lost a lot in quality and food safety. Organic farmers say their food is safer and healthier without pesticides or other chemicals that may be harmful. Have you ever eaten organic food? If so, did it taste better than "regular" food? Would you pay more for organic food if you were convinced it was healthier for you and better for the environment?