Issue date: 8/25/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Jill Weaver / Daily Vidette Staff Photographer Normal resident Jennifer Dellinger and her son Logan, 6, fill up bags of dried fruits on Tuesday afternoon at Common Ground Grocery.

For many health-conscious Americans, organic foods have become the centerpiece of a balanced diet.

"The benefits of an organic diet are [that] they contain no preservatives, no pesticides, 40 percent more antioxidants, and the food is overall healthier," Jacquleen Ludwig, senior nutrition and dietetics major, said.

According to consumerreports.org, new studies show that by eating organic food, you can greatly reduce your exposure to chemicals found in conventionally produced food.

"Conventional farmers use chemical fertilizers to support plant growth while organic farmers apply natural fertilizers, such as manure or compost, to feed soil and plants," Ludwig said.

Some students are starting to change their eating habits as well.

The price of organic foods is relatively 10 to 20 percent higher than conventionally grown foods because organic farmers must put additional time and effort into their work.

For example, organic growers may weed vegetables by hand to control weeds, leading the consumer to pay more for these vegetables.

"I started an organic diet about a half-year ago," Reggie Nievera, senior sociology major, said.

"I didn't like the fact that I was eating food containing chemicals. Organic is overall a lot…healthier."

"It [organic food] is much more fresh. The fruits and vegetables are outstanding," Nievera said.

Organic food retailers are growing from small markets to retail stores, and organic foods are making an impact in the marketplace.

Every Saturday morning through the end of October, the Farmers' Market in downtown Bloomington sells a wide variety of organic foods.

"Organic food is definitely on the rise. Our society promotes health and this is the healthiest form of food you can get," Ludwig said.

"So many stores such as Trader Joe's and Kroger have become much more popular."

According to the Hartman Group, a market research firm, about 70 percent of Americans buy organic food occasionally and nearly one quarter buy it every week.

Organic foods are also making an impact in the meat market.

Many farmers are now monitoring what they feed their livestock to include natural grasses, allowing for a much healthier life.

Ludwig conducted a study to exhibit how unhealthy much of the food served in our dining centers on campus is.

"I compared our dining centers to fast food restaurants. I was surprised to find that the dining center food has way more calories and a much higher fat content than most fast food restaurants," Ludwig said.

Campus Dining Services was unavailable for comment.

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