Organic Farming and Markets During Covid-19

Abstract

Over the past decades, the market for organic production and products has grown year on year. This has been true in Hungary, in Europe and elsewhere in the world. The market turnover of the goods produced in this way has also increased year after year, and is even forecast to do so. This was also the case for the areas involved in production. However, the most recent data available for 2020 and 2021 show a decline in organic produce sales markets. The 12.5% growth in 2019-2020 was followed by a 1.3% decline, which was quite unusual. The COVID-19 infection wave has put the issue of health, but the general economic downturn has affected even organic food sector that is supposed to be supporting health. Consumer fears, the economic downturn, the rise of online sales, price sensitivity, higher prices for organic products, and reduced spending have all contributed to this downturn.