Abstract
Organic agriculture is an industry sector that has been experiencing steady global growth in recent years. The United States is ranked first in organic food consumption, followed by Germany and France. In 2014, the estimated market value of organic foods in the U.S. was $42 billion; 43% of this total was attributed to produce (fruits and vegetables). Organic production systems in the U.S. must adhere to National Organic Program (NOP) standards that integrate cultural, biological, and mechanical practices. These standards promote the recycling of resources and ecological balance while conserving biodiversity. While the U.S. organic produce sector is steadily expanding, many questions related to price, safety, nutritional quality, and consumer preference remain. This paper will provide comparisons and insights in the following areas: (1) the economic contribution and impact of the organic produce market; (2) the U.S. National Organic Standards and requirements, as well as the certification process; (3) the nutritional quality and safety of organic produce; (4) consumer attitudes and preferences regarding organic produce; and (5) future research directions and developments for the organic produce industry.
Highlights
Organic agriculture is an industry sector that has been experiencing steady global growth in recent years
Produce with detectable pesticide residues (5%) included bananas, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, celery, green beans, mushrooms, nectarines, peaches, plums, raspberries, and summer and winter squashes [5]. When it comes to bacterial contamination, the most recent comprehensive review concluded that there is no statistically significant difference between organic and conventional produce [17]
Certified organic produce is common in most grocery chains and fetches substantial price premiums in the
Summary
Organic agriculture is an industry sector that has been experiencing steady global growth in recent years. Movements (IFOAM) recently released a comprehensive review of global organic agricultural statistics and emerging trends. The document provides a comprehensive overview of standards and regulations in various regions of the world as well as current statistics on organic production areas, producers of organic crops, organic markets, and data on specific crops such as citrus, fruits (temperate, tropical and subtropical), and vegetables [3]. Horticulturae 2016, 2, 5 systems include a wide range of practices deemed acceptable under various organic rules, laws, and regulations. This particular manuscript will focus on organic and conventional produce (fruits and vegetables) in the United States, with a particular focus on economic value, safety and quality, and consumer attitudes
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