Increasing sales of organic foods, changes in dietary habits, major food safety concerns, and
greater personal health awareness have led to greater consumer interest in documentation
of production practices for fresh fruits and vegetables, especially for certified organic crops.
Since international Customs agencies and related trade and regulatory agencies do not now
distinguish between conventionally grown and organic produce, reliable data are not readily
available on market development and international trade of organically grown fresh fruits …

In 1998, New Zealand organic produce exports reached $29 million, a 45% increase over
the figure for the previous year. This rapid increase was a reflection of expanding world-wide
demand for organic produce, driven by increasing consumer interest in more healthy food
and concerns about the sustainability of conventional agricultural production. Japan is now
New Zealand's largest organic export market, consuming 46% of organic exports. This paper
reports the results of a study conducted in 1997 of Japanese consumers' awareness and …