This week, the Chronicle focuses on organic farming, featuring several farms around the Bay Area: Swanton Berry Farms, whose owner is proud to be the first certified organic berry farmer in California almost 20 years ago; Blue Moon Organics, berry farmres who learned from Swanton; Earthbound Farm, one of the largest organic producers in the country, and Clover Stornetta Farms, which produces organic dairy. Grilla Bites provides an organic alternative to traditional fast food chains in Chico.
On the other hand, Knoll Farms, which produces figs, has willingly dropped their organic certification in protest of the lowered organic standards by the USDA, and many critics of "mega-producers" claim that the spirit of organic is being lost.
Buying organic may cost more, but the Chronicle offers some tips to help defray the higher costs, along with a few recipes: Grilled Lettuces, Spring Onion Risotto, and Creamy Tarragon Chicken.
[photo: SF Gate]











