The organic food industry is now a billion pound a year industry and growing all the time.

Buying organic means your food is higher in nutrients, free of pesticides and chemicals, and has not undergone harmful processing. It also means care has been taken not to damage the environment during its production, and animal welfare is a key factor as well.

Organic farmers use natural fertilizers, which improve the structure of the soil, rather than artificial ones, which can leach out into water sources causing pollution, and the build up of chemicals in wildlife. They don’t use artificial pesticides – only a very small number of pesticides are permitted. Removing pesticides from our water supply costs around £120 million a year, and that cost is paid by us as part of our water bills.

Organic farmers do not grow GM crops, the dangers of which are not yet fully understood.

Look for the Soil Association’s organic standard label, which guarantees quality organic products.