UK: Organic vegetable prices on rise due to demand
Organic vegetables increased by 5.6 per cent at the start of 2015 compared to the start of 2014. The total organic brassicas increasing by 38.5 per cent overall. The biggest increase among organic brassicas included cauliflower tipped by food writers to be the star vegetable of 2015. The overall value of the organic vegetables increased by 66.7 per cent. Cabbages increased by 40.2 per cent. Organic broccoli also performed well with an increase of 19 per cent.
Andrew Burgess, agricultural director at Produce World, said: “The Christmas success of organic vegetables is recognition that more and more consumers are realising the great taste and quality of organic options. Taste is a big reason why people say they buy organic, with vegetables supplied by Produce World representing the very best on the market.
“The organic carrot is now an accepted choice for UK consumers, but organic brassicas have experienced a surge in demand over Christmas, with cauliflower and cabbage set to be top consumer choices for 2015.”
Other solid performers included root crops, with the total value increasing by 11.7 per cent. Carrots continued to perform steadily during Christmas with consumer purchases increasing by 3.3 per cent compared with the previous year.
The increase in demand for organic vegetables meant that 2014 was one of the busiest Christmases for Produce World, with colleagues working around the clock to supply millions of people in the UK with their favourite organic vegetables.
Source: bostontarget.co.uk
