More and more German consumers prefer organic foodstuff, according to the German newspaper 'Die Welt' on its website. However, the German growers cannot produce sufficiently to satisfy the demand. Consequently Germany import a large part of the requirements and that is at the expense of quality.
"Every second organic carrot, every second organic apple and even 80% of the organic tomatoes has to be imported" Alexander Bonde, minister of Consumer Affairs of federal state Baden-Württemberg says. About 113.000 HA in Baden-Württemberg was used last year for organic agriculture. That is 7.9 percent of the total agricultural area. Compared to the previous year the area grew by 4.8 percent, but that is still less than the demand, which grew by 5.4 percent.
About two thirds of the citizens of Baden-Württemberg regularly buy organic foodstuffs. Four fifths of them mention to prefer to buy more organic products from the region. The interest in local products is based on good reasons, as per Bonde. From research it has namely become clear, that only two percent of German fruit and vegetables contain inadmissible plant protection means. With imported goods the percentage is three times as high on average. The quantity of plant protection means is on average 180 times less than with conventional products as well. The organic branch in general works very well and reacts quickly in case of the few abuses.