This is Shep O'Neal with the VOA Special English
Agriculture Report.
Sales of organic foods in the United States have been growing since the
1970s. The Organic Trade Association says sales last year reached almost
fourteen thousand million dollars. Yet that was only two and one-half percent of
all food sales.
But now there is a sign that organics have risen to a new level of economic
importance. This spring, Wal-Mart announced an effort to double the number of
organic products in its stores.
Stores like Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s have sold organic products for
years. But in recent years organic sales have grown sharply. Products like
organic milk and eggs have appeared in most grocery stores.
Wal-Mart sells thousands of products, including food. Many of its stores
contain markets. Wal-Mart says it wants to offer greater choice to more people.
But critics say the actions of such a huge seller could put pressure on
organic producers. They say it will be harder to know if producers are following
the rules for organics as larger companies push demand higher.
At the same time, Wal-Mart's efforts are expected to push prices lower. A
Wal-Mart official reportedly said his company plans to sell organics at only ten
percent over the price of non-organic versions.
Some people have been willing to pay five or ten times that. They believe
organic foods are healthier and safer. Others dispute this, and some say it can
depend on the products.
Organic products may not be genetically engineered. They must be made only
with natural processes and materials. Crops must be raised without most of the
chemicals that farmers use now. Animals cannot be given antibiotics or other
drugs to increase growth. And they must be fed organically grown food.
Yet the food industry uses many different marketing terms. Claims like
"all-natural" can mean different things. But a product must contain at least 95
percent organic materials to be called organic.
Some people worry that the rules for organic foods will be weakened as big
companies expand into the market.
The National Organic Program of the United States Department of Agriculture
sets those rules. Farms must give a production plan to a certifying agent
approved by the department. If the agent approves the plan, only then can the
U.S.D.A. Organic Seal appear on their products.
This VOA Special English Agriculture Report was written by Mario Ritter. Read
and listen to our reports at voaspecialenglish.com. I'm Shep O'Neal.
（來(lái)源：VOA 英語(yǔ)點(diǎn)津姍姍編輯）
