In addition to more land dedicated to organic production, France added organic operators in 2011. Organic farms accounted for 4.5% of farms in France in 2011, and 3.5 percent of the agricultural area. In late 2011, there were in France a total of 35,271 operators, 14% more than in 2010. Among the organic operators, 12,136 are processors (72 percent), distributors (26 percent), or importers from third countries to the European Union (2 percent). These “downstream operators” are up 16 percent from 2010. Approximately 40 percent of the French retail market is via multiple retailers, with organic retail chains at 25 percent, farm direct at 11 percent, organic independent retailers at 10 percent, and other independent retailers at 5 percent. In 2011, fruits and vegetable represent 16 percent of the market, and wine almost 10 percent of the 3.75 billion euro organic market. Organic public catering represents another 158 million eruos. Four out of ten people consumer organic product at least once a month, and organic foods in the home represent about 2.3 percent of the total food market. The organic market in France is expected to reach almost 4 billion Euros in 2013.
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
