the organic food sector in Ireland. It is also clear that significant challenges confront the sector in fully realising this potential. Bard Bia's market development and promotional programmes, at home and overseas, equally accommodate the development of opportunities in growth market segments such as organic foods. In addition, specific programmes and activities have been designed to further support the development of the sector.The increasing number of food scares across Europe over recent years has led to a strong rise in consumer demand for food products that have been produced without the use of pesticides or other chemicals and in more recent times free from genetic modification. This has meant that increasing numbers of consumers have been turning to organic food as a source of good quality healthy food. Given the trends that have been particularly evident over the last few years this development is likely to accelerate further over the next decade. Problems regarding the consistent availability of organic food products have to some extent been inhibiting the level of growth in consumer demand for organic produce, as some consumers have me frustrated with the ad hoc availability of supplies. Also, there is an increasing consumer demand for more value added organic food products with a longer shelf life such as ready meals, fruit juices, hot beverages and other convenience products. As these products become more available and providing the price premium isn't excessive, it is likely that the share of the market held by organic food will continue to grow strongly. All organic food that is sold at retail level in Ireland has an organic logo on the label. This logo is the symbol used to show that the product has been produced under the standards of a particular inspection body. The main logos that are evident in Ireland at the moment are shown below; (sources Bord Bia Report 2001)Reaction of distributors to the changing trends in co...
