“Why are organic foods expensive? Is it safer or more nutritious? There are the questions customers asks when they come to our shop,” said Nani Maiya Karki, store in-charge of The Organic Village at Bakhundole. [break]
To answer the customers´ query, Karki says organic foods taste great as they are cultivated without using chemicals, meets stringent standards and reduces health risks.
“As people have realized that organic foods are healthy to consume compared to conventionally grown foods as they are produced without using pesticides. There has been around 30 to 35 percent growth in the organic food industry in the past 2 to 3 years,” said Samir Newa, proprietor of The Organic Village, who started the organic store 8 years back.
“These days demand for organic products is increasing because of their taste and health factors and people are ready to pay up to 38 percent extra for organic products,” added Newa.
Saurav Dhakal of Koteswor who consumes mostly organic foods said when there is healthier food available why not pay extra for that. “Once you experience the sweet intensity of organic foods, you won´t prefer inorganic foods,” added Dhakal.
As more people are switching to organic food, demand for organic food items has gone up in department stores in the valley. “Until some years ago, it was only foreigners who would mostly ask for organic tea, coffee and honey but these days even locals are interested in organic rice, pulses, beans and spices among others,” informed Sachet Shakya,” an employee at Bluebird Department Store at Tripureswor.
Traders attribute the rise in demand to change in consumption pattern and easy availability of organic products in the market.
Pahal Gurung, manager of Bhat-Bhateni Department Store, informed about 25 percent of the food commodities it sells everyday are organic. “As demand for organic products is growing, we have added more varieties to organic category and now we have added organic fruits and vegetables as well,” added Gurung.
Newa said consuming organic food is good for health and this also promotes locally manufactured products as they need not to be imported.
Organic products mostly come to the capital from districts like Dhankuta, Ramechhap, Kavre, Nuwakot, Dolakha Chitwan, Jumla, Humla and Rasuwa.
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