World Markets for Organic Fruit and Vegetables

During the second half of the 1990s, a strong and steady growth in the sales of organic foods has provided these products with a viable and sometimes value added market niche. Changes in dietary habits among many segments of the population of developed countries - resulting from increased health awareness and the increasing demand for a wider variety of products, including convenience food - have contributed to this growth. Due to major food scares, which hit many countries in western Europe in the late 1990s and early years of this century, consumers in general have become more critical when purchasing food. Moreover, they have become more demanding regarding information on production and processing aspects (including tracability of the product). The sales of organic horticultural products have been expanding rapidly in many of the major organic markets (e.g. the United States, countries in the European Community and Japan). However, the market share of organic products in total food sales is still small, with shares ranging between one and three percent.

http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/004/Y1669E/Y1669E00.HTM