The food industry has seen a surge in the sales of organic foods according to an annual report by the Soil Association.
The research found that UK shoppers are now spending an extra £1.4 million a week on organic food.
The growth in sales is largely being helped by the discount organic ranges found at budget supermarkets such as Lidl or Aldi.
The figures bring organic food sales back to their highest level since 2009, following several difficult financial years and a rise in the cost of living.
Organic foods now have a 1.3 per cent share in the food and drink market overall and 2014 saw sales of organic sales increase by 4 per cent, bringing yearly spending figures to £1.86 billion.
The report found that dairy products are the most popular organic purchases, with 27.9 per cent of all purchases being made in the dairy aisle. Both sales of milk and yoghurt were up 6.5 per cent.
Though falling by 2 per cent, organic vegetables still account for 8.9 per cent of sales, while fruit makes up 7.5 per cent.
According to analysts, expanding their fresh food and organic ranges has allowed Aldi and Lidl to tap into a demographic of middle income shoppers who would otherwise shop elsewhere.
Launching their range in 2014, Aldi's organic vegetable basket range costs £4.65, saving shoppers over 30 per cent when compared to the same organic produce at other leading supermarkets.
Lidl and Aldi are fuelling the boom in sales of organic produce (ALAMY)
Managing Director of Corporate Buying at Aldi, Tony Baines said: “the organic offering was developed to meet the needs of shoppers who were looking for high quality products at everyday low prices, and it has been a huge success since its launch, with sales up 20 per cent month on month."
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