GOING organic is becoming increasingly popular and in the run-up to Organic Fortnight, which runs from Saturday, September 1, to Sunday, September 16, the Soil Association is encouraging businesses and communities to celebrate all things organic by staging events and promoting organic products up and down the country.

Many budding Gordon Ramseys are turning to their gardens for different ingredients, but not all of us have green fingers.

Help is at hand for residents wanting to go organic in the shape of environmentally friendly fruit and veg - delivered direct to your door.

Riverford Farm in Devon has been organic since 1987 and started by simply hand delivering vegetables to local shops. Now, the farm grows 85 different varieties of vegetables and local distributers deliver organic salads, vegetables, fruit, and meat up and down the country.

Riverford selects seasonal produce every week, which means you can never guarantee what you will get in your box - but it reflects the ethos of home-grown, seasonally available food.

Organic food has been shown to contain higher levels of vitamin C and essential minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron and chromium as well as cancer-fighting antioxidants.

Organic milk is naturally higher in Omega 3 fatty acids, Vitamin E, Vitamin A (Beta Carotene) and other antioxidants than non-organic milk.

The UK Government says organic farming is better for wildlife, causes lower pollution from sprays, produces less carbon dioxide - the main global warming gas - and fewer dangerous wastes.

As part of a UK-wide organic breakfast campaign, Rachel's Organic, Britain's leading organic dairy commissioned a YouGov survey to look into the nation's breakfast habits.

The study of more than 2,000 adults revealed that choosing organic food for breakfast is nine per cent higher in London than the average.

The survey is part of a contribution to "Wake up to an Organic Breakfast", the theme of this year's Organic Fortnight campaign.

To find out local distributors of the organic vegetable boxes in your area, visit www.riverford.co.uk