If you had visited a local British supermarket just 10 years ago you would have found very few organic products to buy, but all that has changed.

Organic Products

The last decade has seen an explosion of organic products in shops and supermarkets to cater for this new demand, as more and more people become conscious of the need to look after themselves and their natural environment.

This has been spurred on by a continuous stream of stories in the media about the problems facing our environment. And with many people worried about the future prospects for our planet, the idea of returning to a more sustainable way of farming has become increasingly attractive.

But it is not just the environmentally conscious that choose to spend their money on organic products. A new found passion for food, witnessed by the growth in television programmes devoted to good eating, has meant that more and more Brits are taking an interest in the food they buy, where it comes from and how it is produced, mostly because they are now convinced that organic food simply tastes better.

Popularity

Positive endorsements by celebrities, such as TV chef Jamie Oliver, have had a huge impact on the shopping habits of the British. Whereas 10 years ago you would have to go to a specialised health food shop, and select from a tiny choice of expensive organic products, you can now find enormous organic sections in every supermarket in Britain.

This is undoubtedly good news for Britain’s wildlife as more organic farms means more bugs and insects in the countryside so more food for birds and smaller animals. Even the future King of England, Prince Charles, is now a committed organic farmer whose rural estates produce some of the most popular organic products on the supermarket shelves.

But this organic craze is not just restricted to Brits’ food shopping habits, it is now possible in the UK to visit pubs that only serve organic food and drink, have your hair cut in a holistic hairdressers, that only uses organic hair products, and even feed you pampered pet exclusively on organic pet food.

Many of the UK’s most popular brands, from Britain’s favourite butter to Christmas pudding, have all brought out an organic alternative in recent years and it looks set to continue well into the future.

Local Markets 

The trend towards organic has also seen a rise in the number of local markets selling organic produce direct from the farmer to the customer, these are known in the UK as ‘farmers markets’ and you can find them all over major cities and in towns and market-towns across the UK.

These are not only great places to buy delicious fresh meat, vegetables, bread, cheese and fish, but they are also great places to meet with friends and socialise at the weekends as they are often vibrant and interesting places to spend half a day at the weekend.

For organic products and services, see our "Find a..." section. 

By John Hillman

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USEFUL WORDS

production standards = levels of production required to meet organic standards
crops = plants that are grown in large quantities
conventional pesticides = chemicals used to kill insects or animals that destroy plants
artificial fertilizers = chemicals added to soil to make plants grow more successfully
food additives = chemicals added to food in order to improve it (e.g. colour, to make it last longer)
antibiotics = a substance that can destroy or prevent the growth of bacteria
growth hormones = chemicals added to plants or given to animals to make them grow more quickly or larger
genetically modified (GM) = when a plant or animal has had its genetic structure changed artificially, so that it will produce more or not be affected by disease
organic certification = when food has been given approval as organic by the Soil Association
organic farms = farms which produce food without using chemical pesticides or fertilisers
family-run = a business which is owned and managed by a family
farmers’ markets = a place where farmers sell food (usually organic) directly to the public
conventional food = food which is not produced in accordance with organic guidelines
free-range = connected with a system of farming in which animals are kept in natural conditions and can move around freely
battery/factory farm = a farm where large numbers of chickens or other animals are kept in very small cages or crowded conditions
canned/tinned goods = food preserved in cans/tins
convenience foods = food that you buy frozen or in a box or tin, that you can prepare and cook very quickly & easily
recyclable or biodegradable packaging
chemical-free
buying locally = buying in small, independent shops close to your home
locally-grown seasonal food = food which is grown at this time of year in the UK
the fair trade movement = involving trade which supports producers in developing countries by paying them fair prices and making sure that workers have good working conditions and fair pay
sustainability = involving the use of natural products and energy in a way that does not harm the environment

ENGLISH GRAMMAR

A friend of mine

 My friend means a definite person, the person I am friends with.  To talk about a person you are friends with, say one of my friends or a friend of mine:

I like farmers’ markets.  I’m a fan of them
He’s just seen an old friend of his
Didn’t you borrow some CDs of mine?
I don’t think my diet is any business of yours!

Use the possessive form of names and other nouns in the of-structure:
We met a cousin of Peter’s
These are just some papers of my flatmate’s