Organic Produce

Written By Admin
Dated: March 29, 2007

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After World War II, it was felt essential that Europe began to provide plentiful amounts of high quality food.  Supported by national government policies, the farming industry rapidly modernised to achieve this and in the last 40 years production methods have become more efficient and intensive.  Now it is common farming practice to seek to prevent animal and crop disease with routine medication and artificial chemicals.

Increasing numbers of consumers today are turning away from industrial farming techniques and demanding high quality food, grown without the use of artificial chemicals.  The organic movement has developed in response to this growing demand.  Over the last ten years, sales of organic food in the UK have increased from just over £100 million in 1993/94 to £1.25 billion in 2005, with sales continuing to grow between 11-16% per annum (Organic and Natural Business Monitor October 2005).  

Direct sales, such as those via box schemes and independent retailers, have increased significantly, and sales of organic produce through the major multiple retailers also continue to grow.  The UK is now the fourth largest organic food market in Europe (The Global Market for Organic Food and Drink, Organic Monitor July 2003), behind Italy, Germany and Spain.  In 2004, 77.4% of households bought some organic products (The Soil Association Annual Report 2005) and the two main motivations for eating organic food are taste and the avoidance of ‘health negatives’ such as pesticide or antibiotic residues.

Organic dairy farming in the UK is an important part of the overall organic farming picture.  In recent years, dairy has been one of the fastest growing organic categories, with annual demand increases of more than 25% year on year.