News & Media :: Daily Log
In the News
Apr 27, 2010
Despite tough economic times, the sale of organic fruit and vegetable products rose over 11% in 2009, and now account for 11.4% of total produce sales, according to the Organic Trade Association's 2009 survey the organic food and beverage sector.
Some organic products within the fresh produce sector account for substantially more than a 11.4% share, and have reached economies of scale sufficient to bring the organic premium down into the 10% to 30% range. Recent reductions in the organic premium have generally come through gains in the efficiency of fresh produce handling, distribution, and marketing and not at the expense of farm level profit margins.
Premiums on the order of 10% to 30% are easy to justify in light of the increased nutrient density and flavor in organic fruits and vegetables, coupled with markedly lower food safety risks, especially from pesticide residues.
Other added benefits -- fewer farm worker poisonings, enhanced soil and water quality, more pollinators and biodiversity -- are, in effect, icing on the cake of the value-added benefits associated with purchase of organic food.
