How Safe is Organic Produce from China - Canadians Wonder

Canada and the US important large amounts of organic produce from China

Canadians are worried about their peas.  One-third of all garden peas in Canada fresh & frozen, organic and conventional come from China.  Concerns over organic standards in China and the environmental impact of transporting large amounts of frozen peas across the ocean has people worried.

Canada's concerns over peas highlight only the tip of the iceberg on a growing trend of importing produce from China.  China is the third-largest producer of organic foods in the world with over 5.5 million acres of the planet's nearly 77 million acres of certified organic land.

In 2006 worldwide organic agriculture was a $46 billion industry and continuing to grow annually by 20 per cent.  Consumers buy organics expecting their foods is free of synthetic pesticides, irradiation and genetically modified ingredients. 

A 2006 UN report on organic farming in China and India found "A large proportion of organic products are sold informally without certification controls."

Groups in Canada including the Ontario-based Organic Meadow co-op are trying to raise awareness to sustainable agriculture.  The group points out transporting produce like peas from China has a negative environmental impact.  Other researchers have even calculated the impact using a concept called a "food mile"

Whether the concern is potentially lax standards or the environmental impact of transporting large amounts of food for human consumption the fact remains China continues to gain market share in the booming field of organics.