The organic food industry has seen sales top £1 billion for the first time, according to latest results from the Soil Association.
The report into the state of the organic market and agriculture into the UK revealed that households spend £53 a year on organic food. Fruit and vegetables are the foods most likely to be tried by new organic consumers, with better health and better taste the motivating factors. Food quality, environmental benefits and an avoidance of GM ingredients are also big influences. Those who do not buy organic food say the extra cost is the biggest deterrent.
Supermarkets have also responded to rising demand, with all the major retailers introducing more organic varieties. Sainsbury's who has been the leader in organic produce has more than 1,000 lines. In a bid to catch up Tesco has introduced 80 new lines and now has 27.5 per cent of the UK organic market.
The government's drive to produce more organic food in the UK is beginning to pay dividends. Home-grown organic products are taking 62 per cent of the market. Research showed that 60 per cent of the people were more likely to buy organic if it was UK produced.
Patrick Holden, director of the Soil Association, said: “The future for organic is food is potentially very bright. The market is growing and imports are down because quality and availability of home-grown food is growing all the time.”
The UK now has the fifth largest area in the world under organic agriculture ñ four per cent of the total area. In the last 12 months this area has increased by a further 526,000 hectares.
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