Organic food sales jump 80 per cent

By Jane Bardon
Tuesday, 22/07/2008
Australia now has the largest area of certified organic farmland in the world.And organic food sales have also grown 80 per cent in the last four years.Organics are still a niche industry, making up just one percent of our food.However the report from the University of New England shows that's growing.Australian organic farm gate sales are now worth $230 million a year, and retail sales of $570 million a year including imports.Biological Farmers director Dr Andrew Monk says its because farmers are able to supply more organic and consumers are more health concious.The report found domestic demand is growing more than exports, with more organic produce available and consumers becoming more health conscious.Andrew Monk says most organic farms are in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland, and Australia has the biggest area of land devoted to organic in the world."Theres almost 12 million hectares under certified land, the majority of that is the arid and semi-arid rangelands of southwestern Queensland and western New South Wales, mostly beef with a bit of sheep there."Organic food is often seen as lifestyle choice for those who can afford it. Melbourne Organic wholesaler and retailer Uwe Wolfen says that's changing.He can't get enough organic produce to supply his diverse range of customers, and he can now often compete on price."I can offer some things cheaper than the big supermarkets because I am saving on food miles. Most of our fruit and vegetables are bought locally direct from the grower, and so we don't have to go through about three different stages to get them into the shops."For example, you can buy certified organic potatoes from us for $1.95 a kilo, and I believe at the big supermarkets they are about $2.98, I check every day to see what the different is."
In this report: Andrew Monk director Biological Farmers of Australia; Uwe Wullfen Organic Elements Australia