On the occasion of the next Organic Spring, which will take place from June 1 to 15, the players in the organic sector present their figures. In 2015, the number of producers increased by 5% and the organic market by 14.7%. An unprecedented increase which testifies to a real enthusiasm of the French for organic products.
The organic market experienced an unprecedented boom in 2015, and this growth intensified in early 2016. This sector grew by 14.7% in 2015 compared to 2014, reaching a total of 5.76 billion euros, beyond the first forecasts at 5.5 billion.
After an average increase of 10% per year from 1999 to 2005, the growth in organic consumption accelerated. From 2007 to 2012, the market doubled then it grew by nearly 20% between 2012 and 2014 to reach + 14.7% between 2014 and 2015.
In this fast-growing market, organic purchases by collective catering have increased by 18% in one year. The main organic products offered by collective catering are fresh products, in particular fruits (apples being the main product), dairy products and vegetables (mainly carrots).
18% of orchards are organic
Echoing this strong demand, more farmers have turned to organic farming, all sectors combined. For all agricultural production, the organic share continued to increase, reaching 5.12% of the useful agricultural area in France. Organic farming is best represented in fruit, with 18% of areas planted with orchards and 9% of areas with vines.
On the breeding side, beekeeping is the best represented in the organic sector with 13.8% of organic beehives.
Half of the organic farms and surfaces are located in the three large regions of the South: Languedoc-Roussillon-Midi-Pyrénées, Auvergne-Rhône Alpes and Aquitaine-Limousin-Poitou Charentes.
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