The Slovak Organic Food Market: Development of Organic Agricultural Area, Organic Agricultural Production and Sales of Packaged Organic Food

Consumers’ growing interest in a healthy lifestyle and higher quality products is influencing the dynamic development of organic food, not only in the European Union but also worldwide. There is a gradual trend towards credibility and transparency of producers, freshness in the food industry and the naturalness of the products they produce. Organic production is the total management system of farms, food production and its impact on the environment (protection of natural resources and application of strict standards in the area of living conditions for animals and production). The challenge for the organic sector is to ensure the continued growth of supply and demand for organic food and products and, above all, to increase consumer confidence in these products. Interest in this type of food is growing every year in Slovakia, which is reflected in the growing number of organic operators and the increase in the area under organic farming. Inspections carried out by accredited bodies play an important role in the positive perception of organic food and, above all, in consumer confidence in its quality and in the producers. The results of these inspections should be easily accessible to consumers. In particular, consumers should know where to find such information and what the most common non-compliances in this area are. Without informing consumers about the results of inspections of organic food producers, but also without a precise description of the requirements they have to meet, it will be difficult to increase consumer confidence in organic food.