| Organic produce is one of the fastest growing | | | | Vegetables and fruits are the most available |
| food retail sectors in the country. | | | | type of organic, fresh food, and are closely |
| | | | associated with organic farming. They are |
| Health scares such as BSE and foot-and-mouth, | | | | often purchased directly from growers, at |
| plus fears of GM crops/food and synthetic | | | | farmers markets, supermarkets or through |
| dyes and ingredients such as Sudan1 have led | | | | speciality food stores. Organic meat, eggs, |
| to considerable growth in the organic and the | | | | dairy are also available. |
| healthy food market as worried consumers seek | | | | |
| out more healthy and natural products. | | | | Processed food |
| | | | |
| Recent research by market analysts nVision | | | | Processed food accounts for most of the items |
| suggests four in ten adults now choose | | | | in a supermarket. Often, within the same |
| organic options on a regular basis. Organic | | | | store, both organic and conventional versions |
| supermarkets in England are boming and | | | | of products are available, and the price of |
| Europes biggest organic event, the Biofach | | | | the organic version is usually higher as |
| exhibition in Germany in getting bigger every | | | | already mentioned. Most processed organic |
| year. | | | | food comes from larger companies producing |
| | | | and marketing products like organic baby |
| Unfortunately, at the moment retailers are | | | | food, organic beer, organic pasta or other |
| charging artificially high prices. I was in | | | | convenience foods. |
| Tesco last week which is a rare occurrence as | | | | |
| I shop locally where possible, and I nearly | | | | How do I know its organic? |
| died when I saw the prices being charged for | | | | |
| organic yogurt and eggs compared to the | | | | The term organic is defined by law - all |
| non-organic brands. Its about time that the | | | | organic food production and processing is |
| government started to investigate these | | | | governed by a strict set of rules. Look for |
| organic suppliers and supermarkets to see who | | | | symbols such as the Soil Association symbol |
| is ripping us off! Encouraging competition is | | | | for your guarantee of the highest organic |
| not always a good idea as this can drives | | | | standards. The Soil Association organic |
| down prices (good for the consumer) which can | | | | symbol is the UK's largest and most |
| put organic suppliers out of business if they | | | | recognisable trademark for organic produce. |
| have small profit margins. I understand that | | | | Wherever you see it you can be sure that the |
| we have to pay more for organic produce | | | | food you have purchased has been produced and |
| because there are more crop failures due to | | | | processed to strict and rigorous animal |
| the fact that the farmers cannot use | | | | welfare and environmental standards. Other |
| pesticides, but what is an acceptable | | | | symbols to look out for include the Organic |
| percentage and does this vary from product to | | | | Food Federation and Certified Organic |
| product. Should organic fish be 10 percent | | | | Ingredients. |
| more expensive than non organic fish and | | | | |
| vegetables 20 per cent etc? | | | | Most people dont have enough time to read the |
| | | | labels of all the different food products |
| Once only available in small health shops or | | | | that they buy to check for organic |
| farmers markets, organic foods are becoming | | | | ingredients. So look for the various symbols, |
| much more widely available. In the past 10 | | | | you can then be sure that the product |
| years sales of organic food in the UK have | | | | complies with minimum government standards. |
| increased over 10-fold from £100m in 1993 | | | | |
| 94 to nearly £1.4bn in 2004/05. This large | | | | The use of such symbols is entirely optional |
| growth is predicted to continue, and many | | | | and a product can still be organic even |
| companies are jumping into the market. Sales | | | | though if it doesnt carry the symbol of a |
| through farmers markets and farm shops have | | | | certifying body. That means if you want to be |
| grown faster than any other retail outlet. | | | | 100% satisfied that what you are eating or |
| Organic food and drink now accounts for 1.2 | | | | using is organic always read the label or |
| per cent of the total retail market (Source | | | | speak to the vendor. |
| Soil Association). | | | | |
| | | | Where you will find the symbol? - Look out |
| There are two types of organic foods. | | | | for organic symbols on almost any kind of |
| | | | food and drink you can think of from fresh |
| Fresh food | | | | produce like fruit, vegetables and meat to |
| | | | processed foods such as bread or baby food. |
| Fresh food is seasonal and perishable. | | | | You can even buy organic pet food! |