米国のオーガニック食品小売市場は、2004年から2014年までで約3倍に拡大している。1ドル120円換算で、1兆3300億円から4兆3200億円（オーガニック協会）。MarketsandMarketsの予測によると、全世界のオーガニック食品市場（2015年）は、約13兆円の市場になる。こちらは2010年に比較して約二倍の成長である。
先日開かれた「とことんオーガニックシンポジウム」では、わが国のオーガニック食品市場も拡大はしているが、米国や世界の動向にはまったくもおよびもつかない現状である。せいぜい２～３％の成長にすぎない。供給側の問題もあるが、政策的にナチュラル＆オーガニックな農産物が普及しない理由がある。
農産物や加工品の認証制度、小売りの側のマーケティング手法の問題、買い手側のオーガニック表示の認識問題などである。伸びているとは言っても、米国の生産者もそれなりに課題に直面はしている。ただし、それは、需要に供給が追い付かない、価格が高いなどの嬉しい悲鳴である。
彼我の違いを改めて認識される記事ではある。HortiBizの最新号から抜粋である。
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“Demand for organic food soars in the U.S.”
HoriBiz, May 05, 2015
U.S. demand for organic food has increased, faster than farmers can grow their products. Farmers are doing all they can to satisfy flourishing organic appetites, but it’s coming at a price that’s stretching farmland and finances.
Ripe crops are ready for picking at Wood Duck Farm in Cleveland, Texas, about an hour outside of Houston. Owner Van Weldon says every year he’s busy producing more organic crops to satisfy growing sales.
“We’re getting calls from sources we never thought we’d hear from,” Weldon said. “What is going on is, I think, is convenience, with quality, with good food. Organic grown food.”
U.S. retail sales of organic food more than tripled between 2004-2014 from $11.1 billion to nearly $36 billion, according to the Organic Trade Association. Globally, a new market research report by MarketsandMarkets forecasts that by 2015, the organic food and beverages market will reach $104.5 billion, up from $57.2 billion in 2010.
While customers may be willing to pay more for organic products, farmers are finding it difficult to keep up with demand, partially because it costs more for a farm to go organic and funding doesn’t come easy for non-traditional farmers.
“To use the right compost, to leave certain amount of your acreage for your cover crop in a fallow-type environment for a season, it takes patience and time and money,” Weldon said. “The problem is when you buy raw land like where I live it’s piney woods, you have to pay for it to get it cleared and that can be expensive.匨ore than likely a commercial bank is not going to loan you money without some kind of collateral.”
Weldon’s customers appreciate his use of organic methods. But he doesn’t spend the thousands it costs for certifications through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, partly because of the three-year wait for a conventional farm to become organic certified.
Even without the organic label, Weldon’s customer base has almost quadrupled in the last decade because due to community supported agriculture, or CSA programs — a concept that began in Europe and Japan decades ago. CSA programs allow consumers to buy directly from local farmers.
“So basically it’s farms that create a program where customers say hey, I’ll pay you in advance for part of your crop that you’ll harvest in two, three months whatever and, in return, I know where my food is coming from,” Weldon said. “It has grown nationwide, so from coast to coast, Canada to Texas there are farms throughout the country that are doing this program.”
More customers in cities are taking advantage of local farm programs that bring organic food to their table. Those who only shop organic say paying more is a no-brainer and comes with long-term health benefits.
“I think it just has to be health. People learning that they need to take better care of themselves. To eat better and healthier which means organic,” said Nicole Grunn, a customer at Wood Duck farm.
Some experts said that if the number of organic farms increase, organic food prices would decrease.
14:05 – Mon 04/05/2015 Bron: CCTV America
