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Don't Panic – Go Organic! Browse the shelves of the majority of Scottish supermarkets and you're sure to be tempted by the ever-increasing range of organic products available to buy – something that many would have found simply incredible only fifty years ago. The Organic Food movement has certainly flourished in Scotland. What began as a fringe – or even faddish – environmental concern has now become a mainstream lifestyle option for consumers. And for Scotland, organic produce looks set to become an ever more important part of our day-to-day food experience.

Since the 1990's, organic products in Britain have had processes and ingredients strictly monitored to ensure best practice. Currently, for any UK product to call itself 'organic', it must comply with the Government's standards regulating production and processing. Some of the standards demanded by the Soil Association and Soil Association Scotland however, are even higher than the Government minimum, meaning that products certified by the Soil Association Scotland can represent the very highest organic standards in animal welfare and environmental practice. These tough regulations mean that Scottish consumers can have real confidence in the quality of the organic food they buy – and that confidence is one reason why what was once the 'alternative' choice is becoming an essential part of the national economy.

UK sales of organic food have increased ten-fold in the past ten years, topping Ł1.12 billion by 2003-2004. Amazingly, the organic market is still increasing at a remarkable rate, and it isn't restricted simply to foodstuffs either. These days you can book a guaranteed organic Scottish holiday anywhere from Argyll to Wigtownshire, and from the Borders to the Orkneys. You can wear fashionable organic clothes from retailers like Bolshie, drink fantastic organic beer from the Black Isle Brewery, and even shop for fabulous organic baby products through the Soil Association's online organic directory. It's clear to see that in 21st Century Scotland, 'organic' no longer means either over-priced and exclusive on the one hand, or ultra-basic and self-denying on the other. The variety today is simply staggering and caters to all tastes, from the everyday essentials to life's little luxuries.

The reasons for Scots to go organic are becoming ever harder to ignore. We all know by now that organic food offers the benefits of great taste coupled with environmental protection and an assurance of animal welfare, but these aren't the only positive aspects that Scottish consumers have been quick to pick up on. Scotland has a wealth of small farms that are ideal organic producers, and this local availability is a great support for rural communities as well as a way to cut down our food miles. Organic farms supplement Scotland's rich farming heritage and often hark back to a more traditional relationship with the land, before agriculture became dependant on pesticides, chemical sprays, and genetic modification – all banned under organic guidelines. It's an inspiring but attainable ideal, which has even been taken up by VisitScotland. Their 'Eat Scotland' food quality assurance scheme, is now supplemented by the much-publicised 'Scottish Food in Season' initiative, which promotes the best that Scotland's larder has to offer through an accessible and easy-to-use website.

The health benefits of organic produce also now seem undeniable, with recent research suggesting that some organic foods have significantly higher levels of iron and vitamin C than their non-organic counterparts. The Soil Association Scotland also claims that on average 'organic plants also contain between 10 and 15 per cent more phenolics than non organic' – phenolics being the defence compounds that some believe can help to prevent cancers. Even the lazy-option of pre-prepared organic meals have a clear health benefit, as the regulation of organic ingredients means that many additives such as hydrogenated fats, artificial flavourings, and sweeteners (which are still routinely added to non-organic products on the market), are absent.

As Scotland rightly becomes more aware of the importance of healthy eating, organic options seem increasingly like the logical choice. Initiatives like healthyliving, a partnership between NHS Scotland and the Scottish Government, emphasise the importance of fresh fruit and vegetables and of cooking meals ourselves rather than relying on prepared or fast-food options. A similar message was promoted at the recent Organic Food Festival organised by the Soil Association Scotland and held in Glasgow's Old Fruitmarket and City Halls this October. With over 160 companies represented, the festival is Scotland's biggest celebration of all things organic with cookery demonstrations, talks and workshops, as well as less traditional treats like the organic arts fringe complete this year with a fashion show!

Key to all this innovation is the fact that Scotland as a country is fantastically well suited to supplying the continual organic demand, with 70% of the demand for organic produce in Scotland now being met by Scotland's own organic farmers. With our stable climate that avoids temperature extremes at both ends of the scale, a range of seasonal organic produce is available all year round. And the quality can be truly world-beating, with the very best Strathaird Salmon from Inverness joining prime Scottish beef from organic farms in Ayrshire, and mouthwatering (and award winning) Knockreoch Castle Douglas lamb on the organic menu as well as cereal crops, fruit and vegetables.

The success story that is the organic and non-gm food movement is so significant because of the prestigious place that the food and drink sector has in the flourishing Scottish economy. Building on this stable base, and sure to influence the development of organic trade in Scotland, is the new leadership organisation 'Scotland Food and Drink'. Many hope that this groundbreaking public-private partnership of agencies and industry groups from throughout the supply chain will be at the heart of the sector's future success, as the partnership aims to foster a national industry worth a staggering Ł10 billion by 2017. Central to the project's goal is the pooling of resources from all parts of the food and drink industry – including the small to medium sized enterprises typified by many Scottish organic producers.

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