At the end of 2004, there were about 1,580 organic farms (2 % of all farms) in Slovenia covering an area of some 22,790 ha (corresponds to 4.7 % of the land used for agricultural purposes). 91 % of this area was grassland, 7 % arable, 1.5 % fruit, 0.4 % market gardening and 0.2 % viticulture. The organic fruit segment produces apples, pears, plums, peaches and cherries.

Following the setting up of several regional associations, the “Union of Slovenian Organic Farmers Associations” (USOFA) was founded in June 1999. State support for organic agriculture has increased continuously since 1999 and was equivalent to 2.5 million EUR in 2003.

“Mercator”, the only supermarket chain until now, stocks organic products and organic fruit and vegetables. Organic products are also offered in ten organic food stores and at farmers’ markets, writes Darko Kolbl in a national report for the Ekoconnect association, which is devoted to East-West co-operation in organic agriculture.

RELATED LINK:
Organic farmihg in Slovenia: http://www.organic-europe.net/country_reports/slovenia/default.asp