Vancouver mom Caitlin Adam wants the best for her children and worries that conventional produce may contain pesticides or Genetically Modified Organisms that she can avoid by buying organic.

If I was only feeding myself and my husband, I probably wouldnt go to so much effort. But for my kids I feel its important, and Im kind of grossed out by the concept of GMOs, she said. Im not a fanatic about it, but I find it unsettling that we dont really know what the repercussions will be from all the GMO ingredients in our food.

Organic certification typically prohibits the use GMO seeds by farmers and GMO ingredients by processors.

The market for organic foods has passed $3.5 billion in Canada more than tripling since 2006 and B.C. is by far the strongest market in Canada, according to the Canadian Organic Trade Association.

British Columbians are about twice as likely to buy at least some organic foods as they are to buy none, a market trend led by families with young children.

At least two-thirds of British Columbians buy organic food in any given week, the most of any province.

Adam, mother to Theo, almost a year old, and Amalia, 4, usually buys organic fruits when they are out of season and from remote locales to avoid pesticide contamination.

Strawberries, when they are in season and local, I dont worry about organic because I can ask the farmer if they are sprayed and I trust them, she said. But out-of-season fruit from the United States ... I feel more comfortable when they are organic and GMO-free.

Adam became an organic consumer nearly 20 years ago when her parents made the switch to a vegetarian diet.

Read more:
Rise of the organic shopper