Consumers offered nearly organic food

06 August 1998

Consumers offered ‘nearly organic’ food

SAINSBURY is offering consumers a range of “nearly organic” food in an attempt to encourage more farmers to abandon “conventional” production methods using chemical fertilisers and pesticides.

“Transitional” salmon, from a fish farm in Orkney that has not quite reached full organic status, has gone on sale in Sainsburys stores. It may be followed by apples and pears.

The aim is to help producers going organic through the lengthy conversion period. This interim period, which can involve heavy financial losses, is one of the main factors that dissuades farmers from changing systems.

Research by ADAS, the farm advisory agency, shows that farmers can boost their incomes by 15% by switching to organic lamb production.

• The Daily Telegraph 06/08/98 page 13