Last year, the organic industry was confronted with various challenges. This year, too, the situation seems to remain tense. When asked, communications manager Lisa Kadagies of lehmann natur told us how this has affected organic bananas as well as organic limes for the company.
"Basically, retail demand for premium organic is down for bananas, for example. For organic limes, we could even notice an increased demand. At lehmann natur, we source organic and Demeter-quality limes from a smallholder cooperative in Colombia. Our sister company Biofrusan also sources bananas in organic and Demeter quality from Colombia and the Dominican Republic."
Lisa Kadagies (left) and management Marion Hoffmann (2nd from left), and colleagues from lehmann natur at Fruit Logistica 2023.
Price increase for bananas, stable prices for limes
Sister company Biofrusan did not see any major price changes for bananas in 2021 to 2022. "From 2022 to 2023, there was a price increase, which can be explained both in the weak euro and in the compensation of increased energy and transport costs. In the case of limes, prices were largely maintained in procurement despite rising costs." Bananas and limes are imported exclusively by ship and offered year-round, Kadagies said. "The climate fluctuations that agriculture faces regularly lead to surpluses or shortages, which we anticipate."
"Working with nature instead of against it"
The company already knows how to respond to the increasingly drastic effects of climate change. "Farmers worldwide are already struggling with the negative implications of climate change. We are convinced that resilient, high-yield agriculture is one that is organic and biodynamic, or practiced using permaculture methods. Essential elements of these are: mixed crops, working with care for the soil, building humus and working with microorganisms, promoting biodiversity and saving water. Working with nature, not against it."
The diverse organic range from lehmann natur.
Investments for resilience building
"Implementing these measures requires financial resources, which must be borne by the entire value chain. Consequently, concrete impact on marketing means: we must work every day to ensure that farmers receive a price that not only secures their livelihood, but also rewards investments for resilience building. If premium organic products are crowded out by entry-level price organic goods, as is currently the case in practice, it doesn't work."
In addition, Kadagies says the company is in discussions with producers about whether certain productions at current locations are still possible in the long term, with regard to the expected climatic changes.
For more information:
Lisa Kadagies
Lehmann Natur
Gesellschaft zur Erzeugung und zum Vertrieb ökologischer Produkte mbH
Otto-Hahn-Straße 10
40670 Meerbusch
Tel +49 (0) 2159 5351-0
Fax +49 (0) 2159 5351-139
www.lehmann-natur.com
presse@lehmann-natur.com