Unlike most other sectors, sales of organic products are continuing to increase worldwide.
“Organic sales continue to increase because consumers are buying more organic products for home consumption, rather than spending on more expensive items such as cars and TVs,” said Organic Federation Australia chair, Andre Leu.
“Market information from Australia, the US and Europe is showing a considerable increase in the sales of the types of organic products used to prepare meals, such as fruits, vegetables, dairy products, grains, bread and meat,” he said.
The global recession had no impact on the world’s largest organic trade show, Biofach in Germany.
This year was the twentieth anniversary of Biofach with over 46,000 trade visitors from 130 countries and 2,717 exhibitors spread over 12 halls participating in the world’s largest organic event.
This is similar to 2008 when more than 2,600 exhibitors presented their products to 46,484 trade visitors from 116 countries.
“Several countries gave presentations on their organic sectors with the consistent message that sales continue to expand,” said Leu.
The data is consistent with a survey conducted by Newspoll which showed that 61% of Australian grocery buyers purchase organic products.
“Our members are telling us that sales have increased significantly,” said OFA director and Organic Traders’ and Consumers’ Network convenor, Catriona Macmillan.
“While there is some evidence of a slowing in sales of some of the more expensive packaged organic products, this is more than compensated by the increase in all the other lines,” she explained.
“The organic industry is emerging from a small niche to a significant part of the Australian food industry,” added Leu.
“A recent report showed that it is worth over $600 million. When we add flow-on industries such as the compost industry that is worth over $400 million it is easy to see that the organic industry is worth over a billion dollars to the Australian economy.”