Wal-Mart is adding more organic goods to the aisles of its stores nationwide, and retail analysts say the result will be that organic food will be more widely available and at lower prices. The Boston Globe noted last month that five Wal-Marts near Boston have doubled the number of organic products they offer since March.

The Globe quoted sources who said Wal-Mart's deepening interest in organic foods could spur more organic conversion at the farm level. As Wal-Mart looks to sell more organic food (it is already the top retail vendor of organic milk) its antithesis, Whole Food Markets, is said to be putting more emphasis on affordability.