Organic foods are big business in the us. Since 1991, food sales have jumped 20 per cent annually, reaching US $3.4 billion in 1996, projected to grow to $6.5 billion by the year 2000. Land under organic crop cultivation has more than doubled since 1991 and organic dairy sales are increasing in leaps and bounds every year.

From the consumer's point of view organic foods are those that have been cultivated without the help of fertilisers and pesticides.

A certificate can be obtained from any one of the 40 private or state certification programmes. Genetically engineered foods cannot be termed organic.

The usda plans to create its own definition of the word