Demand For Organic Produce Up In Ottawa

Ottawa, Canada (AHN) - Ottawa residents are joining the global bandwagon towards healthier living by increasing their intake of organic grown produce. The increased appetite by Ottawans for organic food was matched by a corresponding rise in the number of organic farms across Canada.

According to Statistics Canada, by 2006, the country had 3,555 farms that raised certified organic produce made up mainly of grain, oilseeds and hay. It was a 60 percent improvement from only 2,230 organic farms in 2001. Another 640 farms are making the shift to organic growing, while almost 12,000 already harvest organic food, mostly meat products, but do not have certifications.

But despite the higher demand for organic food, orqanic produce made up only less than one percent of the $45.33 billion (46.5 Canadian dollar) spent by Canadians in groceries in 2006.

The bulk of the organic farms are in Saskatchewan. By December, all organic produce sold outside the province or the country must pass inspection by an approval body to be designated by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Stewart Collins, an organic farmer in Quebec, foresees higher demand for pesticide-free food in the coming years. "This is the trend for the future... People are concerned about their health," Collins told the Ottawa Sun.