Current trend to organic fruit and vegetable farming in Austria

Vegetable and fruit growing but also horticulture are predominantly practised in the climatically more clement eastern and southern provinces of Austria, the number of organic farms is steadily on the rise. Fresh, high-quality vegetable from organic farmers in particular - peas, carrots, tomatoes, cabbage, Chinese cabbage, cucumbers, onions, red beets, celery, lettuce, etc. - also represent a basis for durable goods and frozen food, whose importance has been growing steadily in Europe.
High-yield vegetable farming - on approx. 13.600 hectares - is supported by the produce of horticultural businesses usually located in the vicinity of urban agglomerations. A substantial percentage of the overall vegetable farmland is managed in line with strict organic principles.
In Austria, approx. 4.600 holdings currently produce fruit on 11.600 hectares. In 2006, a total of 898.000 tons of fruit (intensive and extensive fruit farming) was harvested. Apples, peaches, apricots, plums, pears, and garden strawberries are of major importance.