Ecological products, much more than just fruit and veg

According to data from the latest study prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Food & Environment, consumption of organic food has increased by 24.5% in the last year, representing a value of 1.5 billion euros, about 32.3€ per capita.

These figures become even higher if we compare the last 4 years, where spending on organic products has increased more than 56%, compared to a slight drop (2.1%) in the consumption of conventional foods and beverages.

In fact, "minimally habitual" buyers of organic products number between 600,000 and 1,000,000 people, although according to Ministry data, almost a third of the Spanish population has consumed this type of product sometime during the year.

MUCH MORE THAN JUST FRUIT AND VEG

Fresh produce, particularly fruit and vegetables, are the best-known and consumed eco-friendly products, although the 'eco' universe is much broader. In the supermarkets, we can find ecological products ranging from dairy to jams, honey, cookies, eggs, sauces, pasta, vegetables, cheese, oil, preserves, coffee, beer, wine and even perfumery and hygiene products.

More and more manufacturers are choosing to develop new, ecologically certified product lines, as this allows them to be more affordable and the range on offer is more extensive and varied. With the appearance of these alternatives, supply is increasing as well as our ability to choose and decide when shopping.

The main consumers of organic products are families with children,

WHY DO WE BUY THESE PRODUCTS?

The main reason that the Spanish consume organic food is their concern with leading a healthier life, followed by a desire to consume products that have not been processed using chemically synthesised products, as well as an interest in nature conservation, interests that coincide with those of consumers in other countries.

An analysis of the ecological consumer profile in Spain shows that the main categories of initiation into consumption of organic products are vegetables, fruits and dairy products. The main consumers of organic products are families with children, mainly in the categories of food and child care.

BIOLOGICAL, ECOLOGICAL AND ORGANIC

The labelling of organic products can give rise to some confusion at times. We can find the terms 'ecological', 'organic' or 'bio' and do not quite understand what each name refers to.

If you want to make sure that a product is ecological, just look for the stamp 'Eurohoja'.

These three terms are intended to describe the origin of the product, which has been obtained respecting the plants’ and animals’ natural growth rate, produced without the use of synthetic chemicals (fertilisers, pesticides, etc.) and using authorised additives in organic production. The differences between these three terms are only small semantic nuances, so much so that European legislation states that they are synonyms.

In any event, if you want to make sure that a product is ecological, just look for the stamp 'Eurohoja'.