New data from the Danish Consumer Board, Tænk, indicates that the price of organic fruit and vegetables is subject to fierce competition. Almost all the supermarkets lowered these prices by more than ten percent last year. Aldi is the only exception.
Lotte Lei is head of the Fruit and Vegetable Department at the Økologisk Landsforening. This is the Danish Association of Organic Farmers. She is concerned. "We have noticed that an increasing number of growers are feeling the pressure of these low prices."
"The danger is that we will soon opt for the cheapest cultivation methods. This will be at the cost of not only the taste but also the quality of the products. This means, in the end, we will have a product that no-one is interested in anymore."
The Consumer Board has more than 82,000 members. Since 2015, every year, it has been registering the prices of eleven products that available in all supermarkets. These products are cucumbers, broccoli, carrots, potatoes, and snack bell peppers. Then there are also tomatoes, oranges, bananas, lemons, kiwis, and apples.
“One reason for the low prices in that the turnover rate of organic products has risen sharply in recent years. This means supermarkets have to throw away less of these products. They can, therefore, afford to lower prices," says Henrik Hindborg, Økologisk Landsforening's Retail Manager.
According to him, another factor is that imports of cheaper overseas products have tripled in the years between 2014 and 2017. Hindborg has called on supermarkets to turn the tide. They need to invest in a wide assortment of new and multiple varieties and better quality products. They should do so in partnership with the Danish organic farmers.
Source: nyheder.okologi.dk