following NATURE'S WAY.

• Author: HAUMANN, BARBARA
• Position: Organic farming

What was once an eclectic trend is slowly, but surely, creating its own market.

A quiet revolution is spreading. More and more American growers are turning to organic farming systems as a potential way to lower input costs, decrease reliance on nonrenewable resources, capture high-value markets and premium prices, and boost farm income, according to Economic Research Service.

"It's not a niche market anymore in terms of consumer interest," according to Harvey Hartman, a market researcher and retail industry consultant in Seattle whose company, The Hartman Group, studies consumer buying patterns.

For some farmers in the Northeast as well as throughout the U.S., growing crops and livestock organically has been the solution to staying in business. In fact, organic farming has become one of the fastest-growing segments of U.S. agriculture during the past decade. Figures from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service (ERS) released in early April showed that U.S. acreage devoted to organic crops doubled between 1992 and 1997. Figures since 1997 have not yet been compiled.

Despite this rapid growth, certified organic cropland and pastures accounted for only 0.2% of total U.S. farmland in 1997, although the percentages were higher for certain crops and in certain regions. Nationally, for instance, approximately 2% of acreage used to produce apples, carrots, lettuce, and grapes was farmed organically in 1997. In Vermont, the percentage of vegetable acreage under organic management was an impressive 24% in 1997.

Organic agriculture refers to the way agricultural products, including foods and fibers, are grown and processed. This system of agriculture strives for a balance with nature, using methods and materials of low impact to the environment. It replenishes and maintains soil fertility, eliminates the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers, and preserves biodiversity in agriculture.

In order to sell organic products, a farm must be certified through a third-party certifying agency and must not have used prohibited materials for at least three years. Prohibited are various fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, growth regulators, and pesticides. Soil and water analyses and produce residue testing are used to verify compliance with organic standards. On-site inspection must occur before the first certified harvest, and then be conducted annually. In addition, organic producers must update their...