Organic Food Consumption Hits New Heights in Italy

According to the new data, in the year 2020 till June, the sales of organic food and beverage products made the best ever €3.3 billion in Italy, having seen 4.4% growth. The number denotes only retail sales and does not take in the use of organic products in the HoReCa channel, in schools or commercial canteens, or exports.

The constructive performance was increased by the growing acceptance of organic products during the COVID-19 crisis, as per the report presented by ISMEA. The data even showed that an approximate 90% of Italian customers purchased an organic food product 'beyond three times' in the period.

The sales of organic products were chiefly propelled by wide-reaching grocery retailers, which observed sales upsurge of 5.7% in the period. Discount stores also functioned smoothly, rising by +10.7% in the first few months of 2020, nevertheless, the channel represents just 9% of complete expenditure on organic products.

Generally, organic products are priced 60% higher than other products, the study showed. The gap is slighter in the fruit and vegetable sector, in comparison with other categories.

Benefits of Organic food

Organic products help decrease public health risks to farmworkers, their families, and consumers by lessening their contact to toxic and tenacious chemicals on the farm and in food, the soil in which they slog and play, the air they inhale, and the water they consume. Specifically, children are susceptible to pesticides. Therefore, offering organic food and fibre products into the market gives us the opportunity of selecting products produced without the use of these toxins.

Organic production not only helps in reducing public health risks, but growing affirmation also shows that food produced organically are enriched with nutrients, such as Vitamin C, iron, magnesium, and phosphorus, along with a reduced amount of exposure to nitrates and pesticide deposits in organically grown fruits, vegetables, and grains in comparison to traditionally produced food.

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Source: Esmmagazine