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