SOME 92 per cent of Irish consumers purchased organic produce in the last 12 months, according to the latest research from the Irish Food Board.
Details of the research into the sector, which is worth €103 million here annually, were published to mark National Organic Week which began on Monday.
The research, carried out by Kantar for Bord Bia, showed singles, couples and young families were driving the return to growth in the organic market.
Organic vegetables, yoghurts, fresh meat, milk, breakfast cereals and snacks had all experienced growth over the last year, the research found.
It said organic vegetables and organic yoghurts accounted for 26 per cent and 18.5 per cent of organic sales respectively by the 1.5 million Irish consumers who purchased in the last 12 months.
As part of the week-long programme, Bord Bia also announced the winners of the annual National Organic Awards competition which has been running for the past five years.
The best overall organic product went to Happy Heart Organic Garlic Flavour Irish Rapeseed Oil – from Second Nature Oils in Kilkenny.