| Organic agriculture is expanding worldwide, driven by consumer demand in North American and European markets, as well as its claimed potential to address resource conservation, food security, and farm income issues in developing countries. Organic systems often build soil organic matter, sequestering carbon to help mitigate greenhouse gases (Niggli et al., 2007; Raviv, 2010). Horticultural crops, especially fruits and vegetables, are being promoted as a critical part of a healthy diet that can help avoid problems such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Not surprisingly, consumers interested in healthy diets are often also attracted to organic foods (Hartman Group, 2006), and thus organic horticultural crops play a prominent role in consumer... |
