Fast food is taking on a decidedly healthier and pricier persona with the growing number of cafes and restaurants popping up around the country that are serving sandwiches, salads and others foods with organic ingredients.

“We’re eating more organic food than ever before, and it’s growing,” Harry Balzer, vice president of the NPD Group, told the San Diego Union-Tribune. “In the food business, you don’t have many things that are growing.”

Eateries, according to Mr. Balzer, are looking to cash in on the $14 billion and growing organic food market. Until now, most of that business has been done at retail but operators are finding that consumers are willing to pay the price to have organic dishes served to them.

According to Mintel International, there has been a 363 percent increase in the number of organic items on restaurant menus over the past two years.

Restaurants with names including Lean & Green, Organic to Go, Lettüs Organic Café and O’Naturals are looking to offer consumers an organic alternative to standard fast food fare.

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