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It was the second session of a two-part seminar organized by Citizens for a Green Mount Airy, a new group formed by three Mount Airy residents and South Carroll High School graduates.

Attendees, some of whom were new to the world of organics, talked about their experiences shopping for organic foods, asking questions to help them gather more information on the subject.

Tim Richards, Citizens for a Green Mount Airy co-founder, helps fund the group through an internship program at Haverford College where he is student.

Richards said studies do not show pesticide residue on products affect the health of consumers; however, there have been studies that show an increased cancer rate among farmers who use pesticides in their fields.

Although ‘‘conventional food” is more common in supermarkets, organic food is gaining in popularity, he said, adding many consumers are deterred by organic food prices which tend to be higher.

‘‘It’s rational consumer self-interest,” Richards said of shoppers’ gravitation to foods that are cheaper and less of a strain on their wallets.

Mount Airy resident Beth Leger agreed. She shared that she worked in an orchard that did not use green practices and added one of reasons was the cost to have a business certified green.

Scott Rosenfeld, a Mount Airy resident who has been a vegan for 11 years, said he doesn’t mind paying extra because he knows the food will be healthier and he thinks it tastes better.

Rosenfeld said he frequents local markets that sell organic food. He also informed the group that there is a technique that some farmers practice that is ‘‘almost organic” and products that come from these farms could be alternatives for producers and consumers to save some money.

‘‘It’s not full organic, but it’s close,” Rosenfeld said at the seminar, which concluded with further discussion while guests sampled organic snacks.

Some organic items are being sold at stores that typically offer products at more affordable prices and some grocery stores include organic items as part of a discount or sale they offer.

‘‘I can’t believe now you can see [organic items] in Food Lion or at Superfresh,” Leger said.

Andy York, also a founder of Citizens for a Green Mount Airy, cautioned that people should consider whom they are buying from and that large chain businesses might not always have the most overall sound practices, though they offer an organic selection.

‘‘That locally grown [aspect] is important,” said York. ‘‘It seems the corporations can do everything to qualify as organic and then take shortcuts elsewhere.”

Co-founder Josh Schaefer said Citizens for a Green Mount Airy is planning other initiatives including developing a program to promote green practices in business environments.

Under the green business program, Schaefer said, businesses that comply with a certain number of green practices on a list they are compiling can apply for a green seal of approval from Citizens for a Green Mount Airy.

Items on the list range from changing to energy-efficient light bulbs to implementing an alternative energy sources.

These businesses would also be advertised on the group’s Web site, www.greenmountairy.org.

Cheryl Cave, who attended Wednesday’s session, said she changed some of the light bulbs in her Mount Airy townhouse and presented the idea to her boss at Mount Airy Daycare Center.

‘‘I’ve chopped five dollars off my energy bill,” Cave said.

Schaefer will also lead Saturday community action events; the first one, which starts Saturday will be a pick up trash day on Ridgeville Boulevard.

To learn more about Citizens for A Green Mount Airy or for listings of local places to buy organic food, visit the group’s Web site at www.greenmountairy.org.

For more information on the Saturday community action event, contact Josh Schaefer at josh@greenmountairy.org or 240-285-0780 or show up 10 a.m. Saturday at Prospect Park in Mount Airy.