Netherlands: The Organic Market in the Netherlands

Four percent of the total acreage of farmland in the Netherlands is used for organic production, while the market share of organic products remains at roughly three percent. Moreover, Dutch per capita consumption of organic product is valued at $100. While these numbers are low compared to many other West European countries, the Netherlands is, with 63 percent of total U.S. organic exports to the European Union (EU), the largest EU export market. Over half of organic sales in the Netherlands are generated by regular food retailers, followed by organic specialty stores. The HRI foodservice industry and other distribution channels, such as on-farm sales, farmers markets and on-line sales, are responsible for the remainder.