NZ: Organic food gets a boost
But in the last two decades, organic food has proven itself in another way - it has become one of the most consistently growing economic sectors on the planet.
Public fears about toxic pesticides have long fuelled demand for organic food. As consumer awareness has bloomed, the organic food economy has grown every year since the early 1990s, often in leaps and bounds.
In the US, growth has been particularly rapid. In 2013, organic sales there reached an all-time high of US$35.1bn - a 12 percent jump on the previous year.
Industry watchers expect this growth rate to continue. Globally, the organic food trade is booming, approaching an estimated US$70bn a year.
Click here to read the complete article at www.nzherald.co.nz.