Photos
Announcements
Job offersmore »
Specialsmore »
Recent commentsmore »
- Vietnam: Interest in dragon fruit export wanes (1)
- Ukrainian Fruit Company leading fruit importer in Ukraine (58)
- Spain: The apple harvest in Girona 2% less than last season (1)
- Chile: Cencosud reports strong growth in Q2 (1)
- Peru and Chile seek an alliance to export Hass Avocado to the U.S. (1)
- Chilean produce industry events strengthen alliances (1)
- India: IIM-A grad sells vegetables, fruits online (2)
- Africa: Scientists roll out innovative system for producing vegetables (1)
- New Zealand work permit scheme for fruit pickers changed (114)
- Biological control and natural pollination represented in sustainable greenhouse in New Amsterdam Village (New York) (3)
Top 5 - yesterday
Top 5 - last week
Top 5 - last month
Other news more »
- Obama's tax-credit plan getting a cool reception - Washington Post
- Jordan's Islamists condemn planned Quran burning in US - Xinhua
- Imam: Handling of Islamic center plan a matter of national security - CNN
- Aftershocks of an Emanuel Exit - Wall Street Journal
- Excerpt from voices.washingtonpost.com/fasterforward - Washington Post
- Protesters heckle LAPD chief at meeting in Westlake - Los Angeles Times
- 9th Circuit throws out CIA torture lawsuit for national security reasons - Los Angeles Times
- California high court leans toward furlough OK - San Francisco Chronicle
- Clinton declares 'new American moment' in foreign policy speech - Washington Post
- Digest - Washington Post
Source: Google News
Exchange ratesmore »
- USD: 1.2697
- JPY: 106.41
- GBP: 0.82205
- AUD: 1.3845
- BRL: 2.1939
- CAD: 1.3310
- CNY: 8.6267
- NZD: 1.7626
- ZAR: 9.2255
Euro foreign exchange reference rates
Source: ECB
Organic food hits Eastern Europe
When communism crumbled two decades ago, Eastern Europeans were only too delighted to discover the fast-food chains that symbolized the West. But today they increasingly long for organic food.
"The general trend is that more and more organic products are being sold in former Soviet-bloc countries," said Amarjit Sahota, head of the research department of London-based consulting firm Organic Monitor.
The Romanian capital recently saw the opening of organic stores named Biofood, or Bio Revolution, and in neighbouring Hungary, organic markets are held countrywide on a regular weekly basis.
In Poland, there are organic corners in almost every supermarket, and in the Bulgarian capital Sofia, the country's first specialist organic store, which opened last year, now is extending its activities to a neighbouring cafe.
Even Transylvania's archbishop has converted to pesticide-free food.
"As consumers become more informed about food production, they look for higher quality products," Sahota told AFP.
Romanian newspapers for instance are multiplying reports on organic agriculture and healthy food, with Adevarul, the biggest daily, creating a "green page" dedicated to environmental and organic topics.
But the Eastern European market remains a Tom Thumb compared to Western Europe, with research by Organic Monitor showing 2007 organic food and beverage sales amounting to EUR 60 million in Eastern and Central Europe, compared to EUR 20 billion in Europe as a whole.
In Romania and Bulgaria, for instance, organic food and beverages account for a mere one per cent of total food sales, according to Agriculture ministries in both countries.
But growth is steady, with little impact on the sector from the economic crisis.
Source: fis.com
When communism crumbled two decades ago, Eastern Europeans were only too delighted to discover the fast-food chains that symbolized the West. But today they increasingly long for organic food.
"The general trend is that more and more organic products are being sold in former Soviet-bloc countries," said Amarjit Sahota, head of the research department of London-based consulting firm Organic Monitor.
The Romanian capital recently saw the opening of organic stores named Biofood, or Bio Revolution, and in neighbouring Hungary, organic markets are held countrywide on a regular weekly basis.
In Poland, there are organic corners in almost every supermarket, and in the Bulgarian capital Sofia, the country's first specialist organic store, which opened last year, now is extending its activities to a neighbouring cafe.
Even Transylvania's archbishop has converted to pesticide-free food.
"As consumers become more informed about food production, they look for higher quality products," Sahota told AFP.
Romanian newspapers for instance are multiplying reports on organic agriculture and healthy food, with Adevarul, the biggest daily, creating a "green page" dedicated to environmental and organic topics.
But the Eastern European market remains a Tom Thumb compared to Western Europe, with research by Organic Monitor showing 2007 organic food and beverage sales amounting to EUR 60 million in Eastern and Central Europe, compared to EUR 20 billion in Europe as a whole.
In Romania and Bulgaria, for instance, organic food and beverages account for a mere one per cent of total food sales, according to Agriculture ministries in both countries.
But growth is steady, with little impact on the sector from the economic crisis.
Source: fis.com
Publication date: 9/28/2009
respond to this article
email this article
printReceive the daily newsletter in your email for free | Click here
Other news in this sector:
Leave a comment:
