ORGANIC FOODS
Consumers are linking food purchasers to greater awareness of health and environmental issues, and responding to new, aggressive organic food promotion campaigns by major retailers. Food processors and manufacturers, too, are playing their part, with new product development and packaging innovations that trigger world demand. Finally, many countries are adopting government policies that support organic farming, processing, sales and promotion.
For the foreseeable future, insufficient supply of organic products will be the main problem, rather than lack of demand. Though domestic production is growing rapidly in many markets, demand appears to be growing even faster. This opens up opportunities for exporters in developing countries – not just for those in the business, but also for others who would like to start production.
What are Organic Foods?
Organic food are grown with a commitment to respect biological and ecological processes. The concepts of organic farming is based on a holistic viewpoint. In this concept, nature is considered more than the sum of its separate, individual elements. The principles and ideas of organic farming are found in the science of ecology, the interrelationship of living organisms and their environments. The concept includes economic and social aspects of agricultura
production, locally as well as globally.
The aim is to support and stregthen biological processes, thereby adopting a preventive approach to control weeds, pests and diseases. The use of chemicals, such as synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, is not allowed in organic farming.
Organic farming is based on improving the soilís structure and fertility, and ensuring a balanced choice of crops, for instance through diversified crop rotation. The number of animals must be in balance with the total farmland area, so that farms are self-sufficient in their need for feed, and so that nutrients are kept within the system.
Characteristics of organic farming include the use of organic materials to maintain organic matter and nutrients in the soil; nitrogen fixing plants; soil management techniques, including mulching and fallow periods; resistant varieties; various cropping systems (e.g. inter-cropping) and agroforestry; due consideration to animal welfare; biological control of pests; and the use of manual, mechanical and thermal weeding.
Organically produced food products which are traded internationally include:
Fresh fruit and vegetables
Dried fruits and nuts
Grains
Dried leguminous vegetables
Coffee, tea and cacao
Spices and herbs
Processed fruit and vegetables
Oil crops and derived products
Processed food/food preparations
Sweeteners
Other organic agro-based products include animal feeds, seeds, cotton, cut flowers and potted plants.
DEVELOPING YOUR MESSAGE Promoting Your Products & Services
The first tangible representation of your service is your promotional material, including your business card. These will be kept long after you are gone, especially as often you do not have a sample of an actual service that potential customers can keep and inspect. In thinking about the message that you want your marketing materials to convey, keep in mind that what matters to customers is the benefit that they will derive from your service. You will want to develop a ìbenefits messageî and provide examples to support it, such as:
Adaptations of your service to different markets or clients groups
Specialized application of your service
Difficult circumstances under which you have performed well
Information
ORGANIC FOODS
Consumers are linking food purchasers to greater awareness of health and environmental issues, and responding to new, aggressive organic food promotion campaigns by major retailers. Food processors and manufacturers, too, are playing their part, with new product development and packaging innovations that trigger world demand. Finally, many countries are adopting government policies that support organic farming, processing, sales and promotion.
For the foreseeable future, insufficient supply of organic products will be the main problem, rather than lack of demand. Though domestic production is growing rapidly in many markets, demand appears to be growing even faster. This opens up opportunities for exporters in developing countries – not just for those in the business, but also for others who would like to start production.
What are Organic Foods?
Organic food are grown with a commitment to respect biological and ecological processes. The concepts of organic farming is based on a holistic viewpoint. In this concept, nature is considered more than the sum of its separate, individual elements. The principles and ideas of organic farming are found in the science of ecology, the interrelationship of living organisms and their environments. The concept includes economic and social aspects of agricultura
production, locally as well as globally.
The aim is to support and stregthen biological processes, thereby adopting a preventive approach to control weeds, pests and diseases. The use of chemicals, such as synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, is not allowed in organic farming.
Organic farming is based on improving the soilís structure and fertility, and ensuring a balanced choice of crops, for instance through diversified crop rotation. The number of animals must be in balance with the total farmland area, so that farms are self-sufficient in their need for feed, and so that nutrients are kept within the system.
Characteristics of organic farming include the use of organic materials to maintain organic matter and nutrients in the soil; nitrogen fixing plants; soil management techniques, including mulching and fallow periods; resistant varieties; various cropping systems (e.g. inter-cropping) and agroforestry; due consideration to animal welfare; biological control of pests; and the use of manual, mechanical and thermal weeding.
Organically produced food products which are traded internationally include:
Other organic agro-based products include animal feeds, seeds, cotton, cut flowers and potted plants.
DEVELOPING YOUR MESSAGE
Promoting Your Products & Services
The first tangible representation of your service is your promotional material, including your business card. These will be kept long after you are gone, especially as often you do not have a sample of an actual service that potential customers can keep and inspect. In thinking about the message that you want your marketing materials to convey, keep in mind that what matters to customers is the benefit that they will derive from your service. You will want to develop a ìbenefits messageî and provide examples to support it, such as: