The City That Eats Organic
by April Streeter, Gothenburg, Sweden on 11.29.07
Citizens of Copenhagen buy more organic food than any other city in the world - now between 10 to 12 percent of food purchases, according to a new report from National Organic Denmark (Ökologisk Landsförening). Perhaps even more impressive is the fact that 45 percent of the food prepared in city-owned kitchens and cafeterias is organically-grown. And in Denmark the sale of organic products grew 18 percent last year and is expected to grow 25 percent by the end of 2007. How do they do it?
As with its impressive rates of bicycle commuting, in Copenhagen the key is lots of planning. First is goal-setting - the city has planned for 90 percent of the meals it produces to be made from organic ingredients by 2015, while in that same time frame it plans for the city's consumers to choose organic for at least 20 percent of the contents of their grocery carts. Careful nurturing of local organic farmers and development of an active export market for organic products has helped, along with campaigns to help consumers recognize the big red Danish organic label. And in Copenhagen an influential group of chefs (like at Geranium) and food purveyors have adapted organic food partially or wholly into their menus. To reach its future goals, however, the Danish government is considering some new boosts for organic food, and has said it supports the British-French proposal to the EU Commission that 'green' products should enjoy exemption from the value-added (VAT) tax. Tax-free organic food...a delicious concept. Via ::National Organic Denmark
I think the tendencies from Copenhagen can be seen all over Denmark and it tastes better too. You should try it!
I wonder what constitutes a city? My city (population ~25,000) has a high-end whole-foods style store, an organic hippie co-op and a local semi-warehouse style store that has over FIVE THOUSAND organic food products. It is unheard of to buy anything but organic around here. Not to mention a 50-mile diet is not difficult, and in fact rather luxurious. Plus every cosmetic and health product you could imagine is made organically within 200 miles, much within 20 miles! Bottom line,12% seems like a small amount, but then again, we're talking nearly 2 million people in Copenhagen.
Where is my magical town? Not telling. The housing prices are already nearly double the bigger city prices only 20 miles away for exactly the reasons above. You have to be a rich hippie or Californian emmigrant.