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Go Organic For September

Greenbelt Co-Op Supermarket & Pharmacy participates in Organic Harvest Month, which means organic foods at reasonable prices

Have you ever wondered when the best time to buy organic food is? It's this month during Organic Harvest Month! Local retailers across the country will be selling organic items at reasonable prices while also providing events and classes to promote awareness about this growing industry.

Created in September 1992 by the Organic Trade Association (OTA), Organic Harvest Month is dedicated to spreading knowledge about organic foods and the benefits of buying these products. The event grew nationally over the years by the help of retailers, organizations, food co-ops, farm groups and communities.

"Harvest month was created as an effort to heighten consumer awareness of organic products and the benefits of these products," OTA spokeswoman Barbara Haumann said . "There is so much fresh food out there that is organic and we want to make it known."

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The Greenbelt Co-Op Supermarket & Pharmacy, which has about 8, 000 members, will be participating in Organic Harvest Month for the first time this year. To celebrate the month, the Co-Op will be offering certain items at a reduced rate. These items include (but are not limited to) organic Gala apples, Earthbound organic argula, Pacific Natural Foods Organic Soups, Country Choice Organic Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Soft Baked Cookies and California Organic Baby Carrots.

By participating in the event this year, the Co-Op hopes to expand their organic department, specifically the organic dry foods section.

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"A lot of Greenbelt folks are environmentally-conscious and appreciative of organic foods,"  Education and Membership Outreach Coordinator for the Co-Op, Kimberly Rush Lynch, said. "We want people to know that we not only have organic fruits and vegetables, but we also have dry organic products."

Co-Op will also be leading a "Shop Healthy Series" to help consumers create healthier meal plans and food demonstrations with recommendations on wines to pair with the dishes. These events are free and open to the public.

But why take the time to go organic anyway? Haumann said not only is it healthier for you, but it's also healthier for the environment.

"Organic practices are earth friendly with less toxicity. There are a lot of positives from buying organic foods and these products are also getting more affordable," she said.

The benefits of buying organic products are becoming widely known as organic food sales increase. According to OTA's Organic Industry Survey, in 2009 there was a 11.4% increase in organic fruits and vegetable sales in the fruits and vegetables category (organic and non-organic). Additionally, all organic food sales including dry products and fruits and vegetables totaled to about $25 billion last year. This is 3.7 % of total food sales.

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