The 28th International Fair of Organic Products “Biofach” has opened in the German city of Nuremberg.
One of the largest and most important trade fairs of its kind in the world, more than 2,500 organic food manufacturers will present their products over the next four days to more than 48,000 visitors, reports Hrvatska Danas on February 15, 2017.
For the ninth year in a row, 10 Croatian eco-producers are participating in this most important eco-event, enabling them to present their offer to the demanding world market which is worth an annual turnover estimated at 55 billion euros. Organized by the Croatian Chamber of Commerce, the participating Croatian companies are: Annapurna, Art of Raw, Bobica, Ecogos, Exploria, Hermes International, Jan Spider, Luxor, Vegetariana and Viridis Farm.
"Small organic agricultural production, like in Croatia, can be expressed only through joint activities and organized events such as Biofach. There is certainly potential for further improvement of ecological production in Croatia,” said Assistant Director of the Agriculture, Food and Forestry HGK Žaklina Jurišić, who added that the interest in organic products is increasing.
"There is still room for growth considering just under 5% of utilized agricultural land is included in organic production. Domestic demand is growing, and a market of 500 million EU consumers is open to us,” said Jurišić.
Croatian eco-producers are part of the EU community consisting of 185,000 farms, which totals to more than 306,000 agricultural producers, processors and importers in the organic food business.
"We have emphasized sweet but healthy spreads, which have no added sugar and palm fat. Coconut and olive oil and agave syrup are the ingredients in our chocolate spreads, and people who pay attention to health can enjoy our chocolate flavors without fear. We believe that with this we can find a place in the EU market,” said Damir Šket, director of Vegeteriana doo.
"We are the only certified producer of organic chocolate from cocoa beans in Croatia. As our market is not big enough, this is an opportunity to find partners in the EU for placement of the dark - 'Eko-Nadalina'. We are already present in the European market, but it is time that our organic chocolate find a channel to the demanding EU consumers. I believe that in the long run we will find that channel here at Biofach,” said the director of Luxor doo, Marinko Biškić.
Biofach is held under the patronage of IFOAM (International Organization for Organic Agriculture).
