University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Agronomy, Cacak
Abstract
Organic agricultural production enables the production of controlled, certified, safe, and high-quality food, and at the same time it provides high economic and ecological profit and preserves a healthy environment. Consumer interests in products of organic origin have been steadily growing for twenty years. The aim of this paper is to give an overview of the situation in the global organic food market, as well as to point out the most important motives for consumers to decide on the consumption of organically produced foods. All countries around the world record a trend of continual organic food and beverage market growth. In some countries this growth is expressed with doubledigit numbers. The United States is the largest organic food market, with a total of 35.8 trillion euros. Fruits, vegetables, bread, cereals, drinks, milk and meat have the biggest share in the organic food market in all countries of the world. Fresh fruits take the first position in international trade. Although the production and sale of organic food is concentrated in highly developed countries, less developed countries are becoming important producers and exporters of organic products
