Many 'Organic' Farms Aren't Green

Just because the label says “organic” doesn't mean it's good for the environment. As the demand for organic products has grown, so has the size of the farms—to the point where some are sprawling and rely on unsustainable irrigation. Many of the tomatoes, peppers, and other vegetables certified as organic are grown on farms in the Mexican desert, where they stress the water table and from where they are shipped around the world, contributing to carbon emissions. Some organizations that set organic standards—in Sweden, for instance—are trying to change their criteria to include environmentally friendly cultivation and transportation.