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I have been a longtime proponent of organic foods and organic agriculture.

I think the main reason to eat organic is to avoid bad things in food, particularly residues of agrochemicals, pesticides, fungicides and so forth.

There’s arguments whether organic foods are nutritionally superior. I think they might be.

In May 2004, Catherine Badgley, an evolutionary biology professor at the University of Michigan, took her students on a research trip to an organic farm near their campus. Standing on the acre-and-a-half farm, Badgley asked the farmer, Rob MacKercher, how much food he produces annually. "Twenty-seven tons," he said. Badgley did the quick math: That's enough to provide 150 families one pound of produce every single day of the year.

With the large amounts of toxins in the inorganic foods we eat, we all need to eat organic whenever possible. Every time that you choose conventionally farmed foods or processed foods over organic, you are increasing your cumulative exposure to chemicals and raising your risk of disease.

If you like your morning cup of joe but want to be kinder to the environment (like me!) then certified organic coffee beans may be an option for you. Organic coffee is a healthy and natural alternative to conventionally grown coffee beans. Next to oil, coffee is the second-biggest industry in the world, contributing over $70 billion to the worldwide economy. The impact is environmental as well; by choosing organically grown coffee beans, you can have a great cup of coffee while minimizing your ecological footprint.

Chris Ruder of Wicker Park wanted to eat more fruits and vegetables. He wanted to support local organic agriculture. And he wanted to know the person growing his food.

So, like thousands of Chicagoans, he bought a share in a Midwest organic farm that would deliver weekly boxes of produce to the city in an arrangement called community-supported agriculture, or CSA.

To read the full article, click here.

Check out this piece from The Organic Center, examining taste differences between organic and conventional produce.

Question: Are organic foods more environmentally friendly than non-organic foods? Do organic farming practices have fewer negative impacts on soil resources, water quality, energy consumption and climate change than conventional practices? Are organic farms more ecologically sustainable?

Answer: In general, yes.

The organic industry is running into some growing pains, reports this AOL piece -- especially when it comes to compliance monitoring (e.g.,  making sure that foods are being randomly tested and violators' products are immediately pulled from shelves).  Does that mean that one shouldn't buy organic?

Consider one recent study demonstrated the potentially significant health benefits of organics -- avoiding what's NOT in them.

Organic foods are an important part of a healthy lifestyle. Replacing conventional produce, meat, and dairy with organic options can significantly reduce the amount of toxins you put in your body! I  believe that organic foods are also more nutritious and delicious than their conventional counterparts, but that subject is up to debate if you look at the fancy research studies. For me, organic is a personal choice and preference. I try to support organic and local food producers whenever I can, and I focus my efforts on produce, meat, and dairy.

Courtesy of Earthbound Farm