GAINESVILLE, Fla., Aug. 30 (UPI) -- The University of Florida in Gainesville has become one of the first U.S. schools to offer a major in organic farming.
The university says a class in organic crop production is being offered for the first time as part of the program.
Danielle Treadwell, an assistant horticulture professor teaching the crop production course, said the development of national organic standards in 2002 made the UF major possible, allowing students to be taught standards that can be applied anywhere in the nation.
Organic farming is the production of crops and livestock without synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, hormones, drugs and artificial techniques.
The sale of organic foods has grown nearly 20 percent annually since 1990, accounting for $13.8 billion in consumer sales last year according to the Organic Trade Association. Organics now represent 2.5 percent of all food sales, the group reported.
That has led to the development of nearly 2.2 million acres of organic farm land nationwide, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture statistics
