U.K.: Festive season surge for organic vegetables
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British shoppers are buying more organic vegetables in the run up to Christmas than ever before, according to the U.K.'s largest grower and supplier for the retail market Produce World Group.Â
Compared to the end of 2013, the volume per buyer of organic vegetables has increased by 6.7% this year with organic broccoli being the firm favorite (19.9% purchasing rise).
Organic carrots have also done well with consumer sales increasing by 5.6%, while organic root vegetables were up 5% overall.
Produce World says the surge in demand for organic vegetables means it is one of the busiest Christmas periods yet, and in order to keep up with orders from U.K. retailers, employees are working around the clock on double-shifts on the fields and in the factories in the run up to the festive season.
In the week before Christmas Produce World will harvest 950,000 kilograms of Brussels sprouts and distribute five times the amount of parsnips across the U.K. compared to the average week, says a release.
Demand for King Edward potatoes more than doubles from November to December each year.
Produce World agricultural director Andrew Burgess says the Christmas holidays are always busy but the increasing consumer trend for organic produce means this year is particularly hectic.
"Christmas is definitely our busiest period with Produce World colleagues working tirelessly to make sure the UK public get their favourite seasonal vegetables," he says in a release.
"However, the recent growth in demand for organic vegetables during 2014 means we will be working harder than ever during the festive period as we are the biggest suppliers of fresh organic vegetables in the UK retail market.
"This is great news for people across the UK, with more being able to eat what we consider to be the highest quality vegetables, a vital part of the traditional Christmas dinner."