As environmentally friendly and socially responsible products grab the attention of consumers nationwide, the rumblings of “green businesses” are trickling into Warren County.

“I never thought I would see it in my lifetime,” said Alison Wiediger, co-owner of Au Naturel Farm in Smiths Grove.

A green business operates in ways that solve, rather than cause, environmental and social problems, according to Co-op America, a national nonprofit consumer organization that publishes a nationwide directory of green businesses.

The organic food market fits in that category, along with a new product that's being tested in Bowling Green by a Midwest company - EarthShell.

Growing organic products went from a bunch of isolated hippies to the mainstream level, where Whole Foods has set the pace, even prompting low-cost juggernaut Wal-Mart jump in the natural food market, according to Alison and Paul Wiediger.

To some, the Wiedigers are considered trailblazers of the use of organic farming techniques in southcentral Kentucky.

Reading the book “Silent Spring” in 1974 was their wake-up call to pay attention to the environment.

“We've been growing organically since then,” she said.

Alison Wiediger said Bowling Green is a tough sell for the organic food and green market because it still has an agricultural mindset.

But she touts its 200-plus customer base of people who care as proof that people are hungry for green products.

Au Naturel Farm let its organic certification lapse once it found out it would spend 125 more hours to do the paperwork from the USDA, which recently took over state certifications last year.

“We felt that (we were) such a small operation - we don't feel like it will hurt sales either way,” Paul Wiediger said.

But they still use the same techniques.

Paul Wiediger is amazed that in 2006, Bowling Green lacks a natural foods store.

“It's a tough thing for people,” Alison Wiediger said. “There's no place to buy it.”

But the Wiedigers say more organic growers in the region are on the horizon.

Joe O'Daniel is switching to more sustainable farming methods after seeing the Wiedigers' work.

“He's moving in that direction because he's watched us do it,” Paul Wiediger said.

They also mentioned that a man in Allen County, Andrew Habegger, has become certified to grow organically three weeks ago.

Todd Larsen, managing director of Co-op America in Washington, D.C., said the green market has grown rapidly in the past year.

“More and more consumers are interested in purchasing green products - environmentally and socially responsible products,” Larsen said.

“Green businesses tend to thrive in markets where you have consumers who are educated about the environment and care about social, environmental and justice issues. Those consumers are located all throughout the country.”

When Co-op America started in the early '90s, there were 500 in its directory. Now there's 3,000 businesses in the green pages.

“There is a growing businesses that want to be recognized as a green business,” he said.

At Bowling Green's Sam's Club, consumers can buy EarthShell products, which include 100 percent biodegradable and disposable 9-inch plates and 12-ounce bowls made from limestone and annually renewable corn and potato starches.

EarthShell Corporation, founded in 1992, is a technology company and innovator of a breakthrough development in food service packaging. EarthShell packaging was designed with the environment in mind and competes with traditional paper and plastic food service disposable packaging.

“They were interested that we were a Midwest-based company and we are using agricultural products,” said Vincent J. Truant, CEO of EarthShell. “Sam's elected to put the product in its Midwest locations.

“The product is moving well, we're pleased to say.”

Truant said the green market also presents a new opportunity for farmers.

Truant points to its Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with the USDA, which will help to accelerate new green goods in the new forms of starch, wheat and potatoes.

The USDA recognizes EarthShell's product compostability as recycling, and lauds how the product goes back to the Earth.

Compared to polystyrene products, EarthShell manufacturing process also uses 25 percent less energy.

Truant said the green trend transcends several markets.

Today, consumers wanting to go green look for it in the fields of investing, food, clothing, makeup magazines and even homeownership, according to Co-op America.

Other Web sites to check out:

http://www.coopamerica.org

http://www.greenbiz.com

http://www.greenerchoices.org

http://www.idealbite.com