Why we should jump on the organic bandwagon
Exports of organic agricultural products to the European Union have grown 10-15 per cent this year.
Sorapol Terapat, director of the National Bureau of Agricultural Commodity and Food Standards, said that exports had been boosted by increased demand for organic products, mainly from Britain, Germany, France and Italy. The most sought-after organic products were vegetables, fresh and dried fruits, juices, tea, cocoa, sugar and honey. Worldwide exports into the EU totalled ¤1 billion (Bt48.1 billion). Other major exporters of organic products are Argentina, Mexico, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, China, India, South Africa and Turkey. Thailand still trails behind, with its share of the export market totalling US$23 million (Bt839 million) last year. Although Thailand's main markets for organic products are countries in the EU, it cannot afford to overlook the US, Japanese and Singaporean markets, which are also expanding rapidly. In Western countries, organic products have gone mainstream and gained significant shelf space in supermarkets as consumers become more aware of health factors. Consumers are also more wary of the harmful effects of toxic chemicals used during farming and demand safer, therefore organic, products. In the EU, markets in Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal and Spain are relatively untapped and are ready for anything organic, said Sorapol. He added that there were plenty of opportunities for sugar alternatives made from honey or cactus syrup. More specifically, there is perennial demand of organic fruits in Greece, Germany, Portugal and Spain. Farther afield, organic rice and grains are popular in the American and Canadian markets, whereas organic teas are selling particularly well in India, Britain and Germany. "For local producers, there are many sales channels for organic products, notably in supermarkets, healthfood stores and wholesalers. With rising demand from the EU, producers should focus on supplying the Europeans with non-indigenous products, for example tropical fruits, coffee, tea and cocoa, as well as processed fruits and even more daring products such as organic cosmetics," said Sorapol.
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