Living on an organic island
Running an organic dairy farm is a bit like living on an island where one has to be completely self-sufficient.
It says new figures released by Nielsen and the Soil Association show that global consumers are leading the way for purchasing organic produce, especially in the UK where 83% of consumers now buy organic in some form.
The international consumer demand for organic produce over non-organic is showing no signs of slowing down either, it says.
"This is great news for New Zealand organic exporters as the UK remains our largest export market followed by the US and Australia. An impressive 45% of Americans say they would buy organic produce if they could afford it and it was more accessible."
The latest Soil Association and Nielsen figures show that consumers are more aware about what they eat and where their food comes from than they were even a few years ago. Shoppers are actively looking for certified organic labels to make sure what they are buying is both environmentally friendly and nutritious.
Mark Houghton-Brown, Chair of BioGro New Zealand says global consumers are increasingly demanding organic products, which is a significant opportunity for NZ, if producers and exporters can listen to these signals from international markets and get themselves certified.
"Increased innovation and accessibility to organic products is an important driver of sales growth, with online retailers especially prominent."
He says BioGro is leading the way in providing overseas market access for its licensees and certified members.
