America's organic evolution

One surprise during my latest trip to the US was the extent to which organic food is taking hold. Strolling around a branch of Tom Thumb in Frisco, Texas I was amazed to see a large healthy eating section. Even more surprising was the fact that, alongside the organic fruit and veg, there were packs of 'Natural Cheetos'. For those of you've who've never eaten Cheetos, they are a preservative-packed corn snack that turns your fingers orange. The new, natural version is a pale yellow colour and has none of the artificial enhancement afforded the standard version. Personally, I don't think they are as good, but my body probably disagrees.
Frisco is also home to the first branch of Sprouts Farmers Market in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Sprouts is one of the new, Texas-sized, organic food superstores that are spreading rapidly across the US. Leading the charge is Whole Foods Market, a company that has been around since 1980, but which has really taken off in the last few years. Today there are some 165 Whole Foods Market superstores in the US, Canada and the UK, with dozens more in the pipeline.
Another sign of the healthy eating trend is the growth of artisanal cheesemaking. According to an article in the December edition of American Way, American Airlines' inflight magazine, Vermont now has a cheese trail for tourists, while in Wisconsin, the number of small farmers making their own cheeses has increased from six in 2003 to 26 today, with the number forecast to top 50 next year. Compared to the ubiquity of McDonald's, it's a drop in the ocean, of course, but in a country where processed food has been dominant for decades, it's remarkable to see this groundswell of sentiment for real food.