It is undeniable that the trend of eating increasingly healthy grows. Fairs with great attendance, shops linked to the sale of healthy food, services for body care and even healthy food deliveries are multiplying as an option for life and doing business. Some entrepreneurs are already launching with truly innovative proposals.
By Sebastián Pérez Dacuna
Senasa data ensures that in 2013 65,555 hectares of this type of product were harvested and compared to the previous year it had a growth of 10%. The volume of exports grew 6% per year and reached 148 thousand tons of fresh and industrialized organic products of both plant and animal origin.
At the global level, around 30 million hectares are used globally for organic production, according to the most recent data from the FAO. Australia leads the way with close to 12 million hectares, followed by Europe with more than 7 and Latin America with almost 5.
At the South American level, Argentina represents the country with the most hectares cultivated organically, with just over 2 million, followed by Uruguay and Brazil with one million. Gabriela Abihaggle, organizer of Mendoza Green Market, the successful fair of healthy products that takes place in Mendoza almost annually, explains that natural and organic products are already sold in the main cities of the world. For this reason and because it is a trend in full expansion, they decided to assume the task of implementation in the province and in light of the results, with unquestionable success.
Trends in international markets
Analyzing the growth of this new activity and according to what those who dedicate themselves to it express, we wanted to see the reason for these trends in the different cities in the world that are "catching" so much on the customs of many people. This is how it is described, among them that:
• The most consumed organic products are fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy products and baby food.
• Today there is greater coverage in both Europe and the US. It is possible to find a greater variety of organic products in stores and greater availability of such products in food stores and restaurants.
• Increase in advertising and marketing both within stores and in specialized media.
• Consumers in general perceive organic foods as healthier. It does not correspond only to a niche.
• Organic foods are also perceived as higher quality.
• The European consumer shows a greater sensitivity and concern towards the climate (climate change), quality and environmental issues. Organic production meets all these paradigms.
• Increased concern for good agricultural practices and animal welfare.
• Today organics cover practically every product group within the food market.
• The Asian consumer pays special attention to food safety, due to sensitivity to the food emergencies they have experienced and less exposure to pesticides.
