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| Organic food sales hit £2bn in UK | Organic food sales hit £2bn in UK |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Annual sales of organic food and drink in the UK have hit £2bn, according to a report by the Soil Association. | Annual sales of organic food and drink in the UK have hit £2bn, according to a report by the Soil Association. |
| However, supply of home-grown organic food is not growing fast enough to meet demand, said the organisation, which certifies organic food. | |
| Spending on organic products grew 22% between 2005 and 2006, making the UK the third largest market in Europe behind Germany and Italy. | Spending on organic products grew 22% between 2005 and 2006, making the UK the third largest market in Europe behind Germany and Italy. |
| UK supermarkets saw their slice of organic retail sales rise by 21%. | UK supermarkets saw their slice of organic retail sales rise by 21%. |
| It is important to note that the rate of growth in the organic retail market is unlikely to be sustained in 2007 Soil Association | It is important to note that the rate of growth in the organic retail market is unlikely to be sustained in 2007 Soil Association |
| And people in London, the south east, the south west and Wales were the biggest spenders on organic products. | And people in London, the south east, the south west and Wales were the biggest spenders on organic products. |
| Price rises expected | Price rises expected |
| For the first time, sales of free range and organic eggs topped those of eggs from caged birds, the report said. | For the first time, sales of free range and organic eggs topped those of eggs from caged birds, the report said. |
| Vegetable boxes, mail ordering and other local supply schemes were among the big winners of 2006, with sales growing by 53% to £146m. | Vegetable boxes, mail ordering and other local supply schemes were among the big winners of 2006, with sales growing by 53% to £146m. |
| "It is important to note that the rate of growth in the organic retail market is unlikely to be sustained in 2007 due to a severe shortage in the supply of UK organic products." The amount of home-grown organic grain, used to feed livestock, slipped in 2006, resulting in more imports. | "It is important to note that the rate of growth in the organic retail market is unlikely to be sustained in 2007 due to a severe shortage in the supply of UK organic products." The amount of home-grown organic grain, used to feed livestock, slipped in 2006, resulting in more imports. |
| The Soil Association's director of food, Helen Browning said that the price of organic food at the till would probably rise as grain prices climbed. | The Soil Association's director of food, Helen Browning said that the price of organic food at the till would probably rise as grain prices climbed. |
| "The significant short-fall in UK grown organic cereals is a major concern, forcing greater reliance on imports for livestock feed but of course, it is also a major opportunity for current non-organic cereal farmers to convert and supply a guaranteed and growing market," she said. | "The significant short-fall in UK grown organic cereals is a major concern, forcing greater reliance on imports for livestock feed but of course, it is also a major opportunity for current non-organic cereal farmers to convert and supply a guaranteed and growing market," she said. |
| The high cost of rearing organic pigs saw the number of them being slaughtered falling by 10%. | The high cost of rearing organic pigs saw the number of them being slaughtered falling by 10%. |
| Organic fruit and vegetable production is also undersupplied, according to the report. | Organic fruit and vegetable production is also undersupplied, according to the report. |
| At the end of 2006, the UK had more than 4,600 organic farms, up 1.6% on a year before. | At the end of 2006, the UK had more than 4,600 organic farms, up 1.6% on a year before. |
| Earlier this year, the Soil Association said that it was considering stripping organic status from food flown into the UK. | Earlier this year, the Soil Association said that it was considering stripping organic status from food flown into the UK. |
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