In 2009 the economic crisis is affecting the organic sector too, according to Gerhard Eberhofer, manager of Bio Val Venosta - the organic branch of South Tyrol's leading apple producer VI.P. "Sales are quite good, but there is more competition on the market".

Among total consumers, 10-15% are usual buyers of organic products, 30% are not interested and 50% alternates organic and conventional. This year this last range of consumers, whose fluctuation most influences the sector's trends, is more resistant to buy organics due to the crisis".

"Our presence at BioFach 2009 was very important because the German market is our main destination for exports" continues Eberhofer. "Even though the fair is penalized by its proximity with FruitLogistica, yet it maintains international charatcteristics and audience, and it is still the ideal place to meet the most specialized clients, that play a significant role for organic product's turnover, especially in Germany. I'm not talking only about specialized shops: currently in Germany there are some 400 organic supermarkets, which correspond - together with specialized shops - to 30% of the sector's turnover in Germany".

Investing on quality is the right way to get out of the crisis, according to Eberhofer. Bio Val Venosta is already one of the most important brands of organic apples in Europe. In Italy their marketed volumes reach 35-37% of the total. Bio Val Venosta's recent investments include a strategy toward all-year commercialization and a new plant equipped with new machineries that has been working for three months now. About two months ago this plant obtained IFS certification scoring 99/100.

Source: www.fruttaonline.it