"Big Ag" is one of the reasons America is as rich as it is, and that you can spend your time hiking and seeking out organic foods. Historically, without investing in agriculture universities and without the advances that it gave us, and the efficiencies that investment gave us, we would likely not be in the place we are today. In fact, our surplus gave us the ability to pretty much feed the world after WW1.

I'm glad you say 'even if the standards for "organic" get weakened', and realize that everyone cannot eat organic. The land cannot sustain organic farming for such a large population. I agree with you though, i wish they would clean up the use of the pesticides they do have to use, for the benefit of the workers and the communities around those farms.