Purchases of gluten-free food rose
50% in 2015 and organic food purchases were up 20% in the same
year, said Coldiretti farmers' group on Monday in a study
released on the opening day of the 2016 Cibus international food
fair.
Coldiretti will host a parmigiano reggiano auction at its
pavilion at Cibus on Monday, with proceeds going to charities
that support family farming in the world's most impoverished
areas.
Coldiretti said the increases - which also include higher
demand for non-GMO and locally produced foods - are due to an
increased awareness and interest in well-being, physical fitness
and health, as well as an increase in food allergies.
It said a recent study by supermarket chain Coop revealed
that 70% of Italians are willing to pay more for all-natural
foods, 65% are willing to pay more for non-GMO foods, 62% for
organic foods, and 60% for foods without colorants.
Two in three Italians regularly purchase typical food
products linked to the places where they live, and 15 million
buy locally produced foods, the study said.
Coldiretti said the increase also involves international
consumers, with about one in five Italian exported food products
carrying a DOC label, the quality assurance guarantee of product
origin.
In 2015 Italy hit a record 36.8 million euros' in
food-farming business exports, a figure that has virtually
doubled over the past 10 years, up 74% since 2005, Coldiretti
said.
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