We can no longer stomach our food system. 78% of Americans eat some organic food, mostly because they think it's healthier. But is it everything it's cracked up to be?
This film examines the shortcomings of the certified organic industry. What does "certified organic" mean? Is organic food really better for us?
Our broken food system is harming human health, the environment, and our communities. "In Organic We Trust" looks beyond organic for real solutions.
All across the country, local farmer's markets, school gardens, and urban farms are revolutionizing the way we eat.
Change is happening from the soil up. Start a farm. Eat different.
We all know that something is wrong:
78% of poll respondents said making nutritious and healthy foods more affordable and more accessible should be a top priority in the next farm bill (David & Lucile Packard Foundation)
77% of Americans want more information about the food they buy (IBM)
Annual health care costs associated with obesity total about $147 billion (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
41% of Americans will get cancer in their life times (President Obama's Cancer Panel)
2 out of 3 U.S. adults are overweight or obese (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention)
But people are starting to do something about it:
The U.S. organic industry grew by nearly 9.58% in 2010, to reach $31.5 billion in sales
78% of U.S. families purchase at least some organic foods (Organic Trade Association, 2011 U.S. Families' Organic Attitudes and Beliefs Study)
The number of farmers markets in the U.S. increased 17% between 2010 and 2011 alone, up to 7,175 (USDA, National Directory of Farmers Markets)
Is it enough?
Less than 1% of U.S. farmland is certified organic (USDA Economic Research Service)
Less than 20% of farmers markets have EBT terminals (USDA Agricultural Marketing Service)
SNAP transactions at farmers markets accounted for a mere 0.008% of total SNAP transactions nationwide in 2009 (Community Food Security Coalition)