The global market for organic products has already exceeded 80 billion dollars and this growing trend can also be observed in Poland. According to official data, organic food is one of the fastest developing sectors.
The dynamic growth of organic foods in Poland has been noticeable since the 90's of the last century. In 2015, almost half of Polish consumers purchased goods labelled BIO or ECO, with 11 percent of respondents stating that they buy them at least once a week, and 15 percent at least once a month.
According to the findings of a new study from the University of Lodz, Poles appreciate organic food primarily because of its high quality (76.5 percent), better taste and organic production methods. Among organic BIO foods, most consumers choose for organic fruit and vegetables (69.1 percent) and honey (58.9 percent).
"Our customers are looking for high quality products produced with natural methods. There's a special interest in organic vegetables and fruits from Polish growers," says Alexander Robaszkiewicz, PR Manager of Lidl Poland.
In addition to health reasons, highlighted by half of the respondents other motivations for the purchase of organic food is that it is perceived as safe, GMO-free and simply delicious. An important argument is that they are environmentally-friendly and guarantee respect for the rights of animals.
Organic foods are usually popular amongst women, residents of large cities and those with a secondary or higher education; mainly middle-aged people, but also younger parents.
