Organic food getting popular as "Green" Olympics nearing

[S.Annadana]

With the "Green" Olympics just around the corner, organic food is gradually gaining popularity with locals here in Beijing.


The trend of Organic food is now catching on in China.


The trend of Organic food is now catching on in China.

Sales of organic food are rising and retailers say sales are up by as much as 50 percent on last year.

This may be because Chinese are becoming more aware of the importance of good health. Organic food is free of pesticides and chemicals is not genetically modified... making it a healthy choice.

Retailers say the Olympics are promoting awareness of a "green" lifestyle.

A supermarket manager said, "We are going to host the 29th Olympic Games in China... and the slogan is the people's Olympics, the high-tech Olympics, and importantly, the Green Olympics. And so we're hoping to attract attention from everyone."

The efforts have worked and many consumers say they now see the benefits of organic food. But these new products are comparatively expensive, and price is the only concern for many consumers.

A Beijing resident said, "Regular food is a bit cheaper, and that's what most people can afford. But when living standards improve, more people might buy organic food."

A Beijing resident said, "Living standards have improved for many people, and Chinese people are now paying more attention to their health. Our living conditions are better now, so I mainly buy organic food."

Producers say organic food is definitely worth the higher price. At an organic farm in Beijing, everything is carefully done by hand... from planting to harvesting and choosing the best vegetables to package.

Organic farms like this were not developed just for the Olympics. The government started pushing "green" ideals long before the Games, and the promotion of organic food started 20 years ago.

But the 2008 Olympics have helped spread awareness of green values, and the trend is likely to continue long after the Games are over.