Just a few years ago you were hard pressed to find organic foods. But lately more and more people are switching to organic foods in the belief that they taste superior and are better for their health than conventionally grown products. As a result, many major supermarkets feature a selection of organic products, and it's estimated that organic foods could constitute 20 per cent of the world's total diet within a decade.

1 For food to be labelled organic, farmers need to meet fairly strict regulations.
These regulations include:
• no use of synthetic fertilizers or pesticides;
• no use of irradiation to preserve food;
• no use of genetically engineered organisms;
• no intensive feedlots (large holding pens that are often cramped and unsanitary) for livestock; and
• no use of raw (and potentially highly contaminated) manure to fertilize fields.

To ensure that these conditions are met, independent surveyors from the organic industry inspect organic farms yearly to make sure that farmers are adhering to the rules, says Julie Daniluk, chief nutritionist for the Big Carrot in Toronto, one of the largest organic food purveyors in Canada. When a food has been certified, it will carry labels that will verify that the products are organic.

2 Almost every food can be produced organically, and that includes livestock.
To be certified as organic, livestock has to be fed only organic feed, and farmers are not allowed to give their chickens, cows or pigs hormones or antibiotics. If the animals get sick and require antibiotics, they are no longer certifiable as organic, says Daniluk.

3 The cost of organic food reflects the true cost of producing it.
At the checkout counter, organic foods do tend to cost more than other products for two reasons. One, organic farming requires sometimes expensive and labour-intensive practices, such as crop rotation, preservation of natural habitats and weeding by hand. Two, many organic farmers do not receive the same government subsidies as some conventional farmers do. However, if organic produce is grown locally, it may be cheaper than the same fruit or vegetable farmed conventionally.

4 Organic food is healthier than conventional food.
The health of the soil is key to the health of all things grown in it, so produce grown in nutrient-rich soil should be relatively rich in minerals, says Daniluk. Friendly bacteria that live in the soil facilitate the uptake of health-enhancing nutrients, so organic plants can end up being much higher in nutritional value than conventional crops. One U.S. study found that organic food contained 63 per cent more calcium, 73 per cent more iron, 125 per cent more potassium and 60 per cent more zinc than conventionally grown food, as well as 25 per cent less of the toxic element mercury. Since organic food is grown in soil that does not have pesticides added to it, it makes sense that it doesn't harbour the same pesticide residues that are common in conventional foods. (It takes about three years for pesticides to leech out of the soil before conventional farmers can switch to organic.)

5 Some experts swear that organic food tastes better than other foods.
Top chefs in Canada and elsewhere often choose organic food simply because it tastes great. Two of Ontario's better-known chefs -- Jamie Kennedy and Michael Stadtländer -- even launched the fund-raiser and educational event Feast of Fields, an annual wine-and-culinary celebration of all that is grown organically in the province of Ontario.

Great Organic Food

&#8226 Apples: If you're interested in trying organic produce, you might want to start with apples. Organic apples are in ample supply, so they don't cost much more than other apples.

&#8226 Milk: Some people who have a mild lactose intolerance may have fewer stomach complaints when they drink organic milk.

&#8226 Strawberries: Nonorganic strawberries are reported to receive doses of up to 500 pounds of pesticides per acre.

&#8226 Lettuce: Organic lettuce is widely available in Canada.

And beyond: When people think of organic foods, they tend to think of fruits and vegetables, but organic products also include chocolate, cookies, meat and several cereals.