5 Sustainable Food Trends to Watch

Food is the entry point for a lot of people into the world of sustainability. We've seen the organic food market expand as people became concerned about pesticide residue on foods. We've seen the proliferation of small farms as people became increasingly interested in buying food grown close to home from farmers that treat the land and their animals well. We've seen people planting their own gardens, following Michelle Obama's lead, as they rediscover the pleasures of growing some of their own foods. But the trend is only growing and diversifying, as everyone from food writers and celebrity chefs to local markets embrace a more food system that's more sustainable, more diverse and – often – more exciting.

In this feature, you'll find our picks for the best new sustainable food trends, chosen as nominees for the 2011 Heart of Green Awards. Find out which wins on Monday, April 4!