Demand for Organic Food Outstrips Local Supply

In an ironic twist for the sustainability community, the demand for organic foods in the U.S. has grown so rapidly--15 to 20 percent a year--that it has outstripped the ability of existing organic farms to produce. As a result, organic manufacturers have had to import ingredients from places like Europe, Bolivia, Venezuela and South Africa.

So, while the the organic movements is promoting healthier farming practices, it now has to rely on the ever more expensive fossil fuel transporation industry.

With the approach of peak oil, real sustainability will require a much greater effort to localize the production of food, which may be a difficult transition.