Did you know that eating conventional produce increases your risk of pesticide contamination by 30%? And chowing down on non-organic chicken and pork increases your risk of exposure to antibiotic-resistant bacteria by 33%?  This is all according to a 2012 Annals of Internal Medicine report. 

If you're not already sold on the benefits of eating organic, consider this: organic foods may have more nutrients than their conventionally produced counterparts. Organic broccoli, for example, has higher levels of antioxidants and vitamin C than the traditionally produced variety, found a 2012 Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture study. There’s also evidence of more heart-healthy omega-3s in organic poultry and dairy.  

So eating organic is good for you and your family, but here's more: organic grub is good for Mother Earth. Foods advertised as organic must be grown by farmers who aim to use renewable resources, and conserve the soil and water. These practices preserve the environment and help prevent the extinction of numerous animal species.

So, here are some of our favorite local organic hot spots. Plus, check out these great markets featuring eco-friendly fare:

Nature Unlimited
Specializes in organic food and healthy alternatives to normal, everyday, calorie-rich, vitamin-low, sugar-packed snack foods. Open daily.

Wemrock Orchards
Wemrock Orchards is an old-fashioned grocer that specializes in pies, cookies, preserve spreads, pumpkins, fruit, vegetables and has its own gourmet coffee shop. Food options include gluten-free, natural, sugar-free and vegetarian. Open daily from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m.

Battleview Orchards
Battleview Orchards sells home-baked goods and fresh produce from the family farm that is natural, organic and sugar-free. Orchard is open daily from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. and also has catering, delivery, phone orders, prepared foods, and take-out options.