A survey of the UFC-Que Choisir shows that the large-scale distribution of margins 75% higher on organic fruits and vegetables than on the same products from traditional agriculture.

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Large-scale retailers are always making more room for fruits and vegetables from organic farming. That's what UFC-Que Choisir denounced Thursday morning: the consumer protection association had already pointed out the practice of prohibitive prices in 2017, but the situation is the same two years later. While the consumption of organic fruits and vegetables is exploding in France, with a rise of 36% over the last two years, their price climbs very strongly.

A margin of 160% for the leek

This is called scouring the good vein: on average, says the UFC Que Choisir, the margins practiced on organic fruits and vegetables in supermarkets are 75% higher than on products from the conventional agriculture. And the more a product pleases the French, the more the margins practiced are important.

" For products in high demand, it will take 90 cents per kilogram for a conventional product, against nearly 2.20 euros of margin for organic "

For the potato, for example, which is in the top 3 fruits and vegetables most consumed by the French, the margins are 83% higher than conventional; for tomato, another favorite, this number is 109%. The golden palm goes back to the leek, with a margin 165% higher.

"For high-demand products, such as apples and tomatoes, supermarket distribution will take 90 cents per kilogram for a product of conventional agriculture, against nearly 2.20 euros per kilogram for organic", illustrates Alain Bazot, president of the UFC-Que Choisir.

With the bio, "a willingness to pay more"

True, fruits and vegetables are a bit more expensive to produce than in conventional agriculture, but not in such proportions, says the consumer association. "There is no reason, when distributing an apple, organic or not, to over-market as they do and to increase the price considerably," defends Alain Bazot.

The UFC-Que Choisir accuses the large retailers of playing on the fear of pesticides and health risks. "There is one like a willingness to pay more," denounces the president of the UFC-Que-Choose. The health conscious consumer would not hesitate to put their hand in the wallet. But at the end of the year, this consumer will have paid 657 euros for organic fruit and vegetables, where his neighbor who buys only conventional agricultural products will have paid 379 euros, 43% cheaper.