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Sanilac farmers are increasingly jumping onto the organic food wagon, raising produce, grain, beef, pork and poultry, and selling it directly to customers.

"Many people think organic food is more expensive. It's not, if you buy it locally," said Sandy Bowerman, who last year started a weekly farmer's market in Sandusky that proved to be a tremendous success.

Every Saturday, local vendors set up shop in the parking lot of the Sandusky United Methodist Church.

"Business was wonderful. Everyone was very happy," Bowerman said. "Obviously there was a need, and we filled that need."

The venture was so successful the market will return this year starting June 14, she said.

Among the organic farmers selling at the farmers' market were Randy Messing of Carsonville; Eric and Shirley Houthoofd of Sandusky; and Les Roggenbuck of Snover.

So far, Roggenbuck is the only Sanilac farmer who also sells his organic produce through a new program called Community Supported Agriculture, or CSA.

A CSA is a way for people to create a relationship with a farm and to receive a weekly or bi-weekly basket of fresh-from-the-fields produce. By making a financial commitment to a farm, people become "members" or "subscribers" and are able to pick up their produce at drop-off points in Sandusky, Carsonville, Port Sanilac and Bad Axe.

Roggenbuck also raises certified organic beef and pork, and organic soybeans, barley, hay and wheat.

"I started in organic myself for a couple of reasons," he said. "Number one, I was tired of handling chemicals. Number two, for the health of my soil on the farm. Number three, I was looking for a specialty market that pays more per unit than a conventional farm."

Organic farmers also avoid using genetically modified plants.

"Maintaining genetic diversity is very important because it would be very easy for Mother Nature to come in with some kind of disease that can wipe out everything," Roggenbuck said.

Vegetables bound for grocery stores are bred specifically to survive shipping.

"I can pick a tomato today, have it in a box before noon and have it on your doorstep by one o'clock and you could be eating it tonight," Roggenbuck stated.

Eating locally is expected to be the biggest food trend of 2008, Roggenbuck noted.

More consumers are thinking questioning where their food came from, its packaging, and its ecological footprint.

Roggenbuck noted it's not that there isn't a future in conventional farming.

"It's just that it can't support the number who want to get into farming," he said. "It takes a huge capital outlay. But there are all kinds of opportunities in farming in niche markets."

Randy and Jill Messing of Carsonville have a roadside vegetable stand on M-46 east of Carsonville, and are undergoing the long process of becoming certified organic.

"Right now we use organic practices, but we're not yet certified," Randy Messing said.

The couple raises summer and winter squash, tomatoes, green beans, beets, peppers, pumpkins, flowers and sweet corn, along with organically grown wheat and hay. He also raises organic cattle, pork, goats and eggs.

The payoff can be worth it if you find the right buyers, he said. Messing sells at auctions, co-ops and through direct marketing and contracting.

"Get down to the city markets and you can get some pretty good prices for the meat...It's called diversification. That's what kept the family farm going when I was growing up."

Going organic means returning to a more traditional way of farming, Messing said.

"Guys that spray can have just as much weed pressure as I do. Thing is, different weeds will tell you what's wrong with the soil. It's Mother Nature's way of helping you. Quack grass means not enough calcium; purple leaves on corn indicate low phosphorous."

Organic just plain tastes better, he said.

"We're building our clientele on the vegetable side and the beef side. They tell us they can definitely tell the difference in flavor," Messing stated.

"Regular markets right now are not giving you parity. If you buy a tractor part it will be at union wages. If you turn around and take a pig to the stockyard, they want to give you Depression era prices.

"With a niche market, you're getting closer to parity if you sell it yourself... You have to do a lot of research on the marketing side, to find out where the markets are," Messing added.

Another organic farm is the Willow Tree Farm, 2660 Applegate Rd., Applegate, owned by Trent Marshall. The small family farm raises organic poultry and beef.

"Our birds are true free range," Marshall said. "They aren't confined to any type of cage. We also have Muscovy ducks, Toulouse geese and broad-breasted bronze turkeys available in the fall."

All beef is grass fed and eggs area available year round.

Visitors are welcome, as long as you contact the Marshalls to let them know when you plan to come, he said.