The South West is leading the trend towards organic produce, according to new figures.

The region produces a quarter of all organic food nationally and consumers are more likely to buy organic produce here than in any other part of the UK.

The statistics are released by the Soil Association, which certifies organic farms.

There are 990 organic producers in the South West, and 73% of shoppers in the region say that they buy some organic food each year.

Nationally, sales of organic food have increased by 10% in the last year - yet the proportion of organic produce sold in supermarkets has actually gone down by one per cent.

Consumers are buying direct from the farmer, at farm shops, farmers markets, and through box schemes - such sales have gone up by 16%.

Retail sales of organic food are now worth £1.12 billion and growing by £2 million a week - the rate of growth is twice the rate of the general grocery market.

However, to put the figures in perspective, organic produce still only represents around two per cent of all the food bought in the UK - and just over half of organic food is still imported.

The report says a fifth of organic meat sold in the UK is imported and claims some leading retailers are still importing fruit and veg while they are in season here.

So the environmental benefits of growing organic food are being damaged by the transportation of the produce.

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