VOA新闻杂志2022--有机食品大受欢迎，农民仍在犹豫

Organic Food Is Popular, But US Farmers Still Unsure

Demand for organic produce has increased so fast that it has grown faster than the supply in the United States.

The challenge for U.S. farmers is not getting buyers to pay higher prices; it is getting enough farmers to grow organic products.

Instead of growing to meet the demand, the number of farmers starting to grow organic crops is dropping. Last month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said it would spend up to $300 million to help more farmers make the change.

Chris Schreiner is executive director of the organic-approving organization Oregon Tilth. He said about the government support, "It feels good." He added that it is an important step in this work.

Schreiner has worked at the Oregon-based organization since 1998. He said expanding technical training is important because of the difference between farming land with usual, or conventional methods, and organic ones. Schreiner noted¹ that one farmer told him that changing a farm to organic production was like asking "a foot doctor to become a heart surgeon."

The important difference is the use of synthetic² fertilizers and pesticides⁴ and genetically⁵ changed seeds. Most conventional farms use those materials, but they are banned on organic farms. Instead, organic farmers must control unwanted plants and animals with different methods. They include seasonally⁶ changing crops and planting cover crops that push out unwanted plants and add nutrients⁷ to the soil.

Crops can only be called organic if they are grown on land that has not been treated with synthetic products for three years. During that period, farmers can grow crops, but they do not get the extra income that comes with organic crops.

Data from the USDA shows the number of conventional farms newly changing to organic production dropped by about 70 percent from 2008 to 2019. Organic produce makes up about six percent of overall food sales, but only one percent of the country's farmland is in organic production. Foreign producers make up the rest.

Megan DeBates is vice⁸ president of government affairs for the Organic Trade Association. She said in the U.S., "There are so many barriers to farmers making that leap to organic."

While farmers do not seem ready, U.S. buyers are. The Organic Trade Association found yearly sales of organic products have nearly doubled in the past 10 years and now reach about $63 billion. Sales are predicted to increase by 5.5 percent this year.

The new USDA effort would include $100 million toward helping⁹ farmers learn new methods for growing organic crops. It would include $75 million for farmers who meet new conservation standards. It would include $25 million to expand crop insurance programs and to reduce costs. And it would include $100 million to aid the development and expansion of markets for organics.

Nick Andrews of Oregon State University works with organic farmers. He called the USDA effort important.

Farmers with small farms should find this effort appealing because the added value of organic crops makes it possible to make more money from even 10 to 40 hectare farms. That is much smaller than the commercial operations that provide most of the country's produce.

Andrews said, "I've seen organic farmers keep families in business who otherwise would go out of business."

Words in This Story

challenge – n. a difficult task or problem

surgeon – n. a doctor who performs operations that involve cutting into someone's body in order to repair or remove damaged or diseased parts

synthetic – adj. made by combining different substances: not natural

pesticide³ – n. a chemical that is used to kill animals or insects that damage plants or crops

leap – n. a great and sudden change, increase, or improvement

standard – v. a level of quality or achievement that is considered acceptable or desirable

1 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

2 synthetic   

adj.合成的，人工的；综合的；n.人工制品

参考例句：

• We felt the salesman's synthetic friendliness.我们感觉到那位销售员的虚情假意。
• It's a synthetic diamond.这是人造钻石。

3 pesticide   

n.杀虫剂，农药

参考例句：

• The pesticide was spread over the vegetable plot.菜田里撒上了农药。
• This pesticide is diluted with water and applied directly to the fields.这种杀虫剂用水稀释后直接施用在田里。

4 pesticides   

n.杀虫剂( pesticide的名词复数 )；除害药物

参考例句：

• vegetables grown without the use of pesticides 未用杀虫剂种植的蔬菜
• There is a lot of concern over the amount of herbicides and pesticides used in farming. 人们对农业上灭草剂和杀虫剂的用量非常担忧。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 genetically   

adv.遗传上

参考例句：

• All the bees in the colony are genetically related. 同一群体的蜜蜂都有亲缘关系。
• Genetically modified foods have already arrived on American dinner tables. 经基因改造加工过的食物已端上了美国人的餐桌。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 基因与食物

6 seasonally   

参考例句：

• The price of vegetables fluctuates seasonally. 蔬菜的价格随季节变动。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They moved seasonally among various vegetation types to feed on plants that were flourishing. 它们还随着季节的变化而在各种类型植物之间迁移，以便吃那些茂盛的植物。 来自辞典例句

7 nutrients   

n.（食品或化学品）营养物，营养品( nutrient的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a lack of essential nutrients 基本营养的缺乏
• Nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream. 营养素被吸收进血液。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

9 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。