Organic growth

Here, just like much of the world, people are increasingly choosing goodness on a plate

The popular Ripe market sells organic produce at Mushrif Central Park in Abu Dhabi. Christopher Pike / The National

People increasingly want to eat healthy in this country and this is shaping the organic food industry as well. As The National reported yesterday, the demand is so high that it has created a gap in the market: people want more but local production hasn't been able to keep up with the hunger for fruit and vegetables farmed without chemicals. As Dr Safdar Mohammed, UAE University's chair of agribusiness, explains, certain key rules would have to be followed in order for produce to be certified organic and farmers need to know the "growing system".

Around the world, health-conscious consumers are choosing pesticide-free vegetables, whole grains, healthy oils, grass-fed, pastured meat and free-range eggs over highly processed, chemical-contaminated and factory farmed food. Now we want our share of natural goodness too. It’s an investment in health and well-being – the best medicine you can take might be at the end of a fork.