Organic farm produce has been the star performer of the organic market due to an increased interest in healthy food, the Soil Association has revealed.
With harvest time and Organic September around the corner, sales of produce grew by 7.4% in the 52 weeks to 1 July.
Positive gains have also been made in dairy (+2.3%), the largest overall market sector for organic.
The organic market has continued to expand in the second half of 2017, with growth in the 52 weeks to 1 July 2017 at 4%.
The growth in sectors like fruit (+12.6%) and vegetables (+1.9%) is in line with heightened consumer awareness and interest in health and wellbeing, according to the Soil Association.
The environmental charity said shoppers are increasingly looking for organic products, with 82% of UK shoppers now buying at least one organic item per year, up from 79.5% in 2016.
With more than 8,000 stores nationwide currently stocking organic products, the market is now worth over £2 billion.
Liz Bowles, Soil Association Head of Farming, said: “It’s a positive time for organic, with strong market growth and continued CAP payments helping ensure more stability for farmers.
“The demand for organic food is nearing an all-time high, and with ever more research showing the potential benefits of organic, the uplift in demand for organic produce comes as no surprise.”
