Not all greener pastures in Latvia's organics industry

  • 2009-07-08
  • By Kate McIntosh

TO MARKET: Green markets such as the one in Bergs Bazaars are offering a fresher, healthier selection of organic products.

RIGA - A trip to Riga's bi-monthly Green Market reveals a burgeoning ecological conscience.
The marketplace, located in the elegantly designed shopping complex Bergs Bazaar, reveals a menagerie of home grown produce, along with textiles, Soviet era relics, cured meats, arts and crafts, books and vintage postcards.

The market has been developed in conjunction with Latvia's Slow Food organization, a world-wide movement against fast food that supports eco cuisine and farming methods.
A visit here is a far cry from the hum drum duty of a trip to the typical supermarket, with its dour offerings of wilted vegetables and mainstream products.
Latvia's organic farming movement began in the late 1980s and rapidly grew since accession into the European Union and the subsequent increased public awareness of the associated principles of sustainable living.

Since joining the EU the number of organic farms has doubled to 4,000, covering some 161,000 hectares 's a total of 8.5 percent of all agricultural land in Latvia.
Increased growth in the organic sector mirrors a greater trend throughout the EU. The bloc has seen an explosion of consumer support toward organically produced goods.
However, development of Latvia's organic industry has been hindered by stringent regulations and a lack of government support.

Latvia's organic-certification agencies employ strict controls in line with EU regulations and standards.
In 2008 the government introduced even tougher controls, which organic farmers must meet in order to qualify for government subsidies.
Tighter conditions, which include proof of income, were introduced in a bid to curb unscrupulous practices in the industry.

Marita Bluma, office manager of the Association of Latvian Organic Agriculture (ALOL) said the controls had gone too far and were stifling further development in the industry.
"It should be so [that the government supports organic farming], but in Latvia it is not the case. If it's going to be long-term then I think it's going to have quite a huge impact on its development and many more farmers will decide to leave the scheme," she said.

Latvia currently has the lowest levels of support for organic farming in the EU and development within the sector continues to lag behind Lithuania and Estonia.
"This is the reason why they're [farmers] leaving the industry. A lot will continue to grow organically, but such small farms cannot gain such high level conditions," said Bluma.
ALOL, which was founded in 1995, is an organization working to support organic producers and development of the sustainable agricultural sector.

The organization works in operation with the Ministries of Agriculture and Environment, field specialists, mass media and other relevant institutions on the development of sustainable household management practices, diversification of rural employment and environmentally friendly policy development.

Organically produced food products in Latvia can most commonly be recognized by the "Latvijas Ekoproducts" label depicting a four leaf clover threaded through a horseshoe.
Products bearing this label have been organically certified by ALOL.
The "Green Spoon" label sported by some products denotes that at least 75 percent of the ingredients are grown in Latvia.

GOING ORGANIC

Latvia also differs from other Western European countries in that organic goods are not solely the domain of high-end consumer chain.
Many organically produced products can be found at affordable prices or even cheaper than mainstream products, particularly at marketplaces outside Riga.
While the number of organic farming enterprises is still low in comparison to the total number of farms nationwide, a growing variety of organically produced bread and grain, fruit, dairy and vegetable products are available.

Organic-certified products can be found scattered throughout Riga at farmers markets, specialized stores and even on the shelves of mainstream supermarkets, albeit in less variety.
Riga's famed Vincent's Restaurant, headed by celebrity chef Martins Ritins, also sources a wide variety of local produce for its organic dishes.
Latvia has a long agricultural tradition and many of the country's farmers were using organic practices long before it was a buzzword.

Even in the current economically depressed climate there continues to be a strong and ethically driven support for local farmers and producers.
In another promising sign for the sector, Bluma said a number of large Latvian food manufacturers have launched organic lines.

"Now more and more people are recognizing organic products and asking for them. Especially in Riga people know about eco products and there is demand," she said.
Bluma said a fundamental lack of understanding about what constitutes organic in Latvia's rural areas was threatening to undermine consumer confidence in the organics industry.
"Many people in the countryside are growing organically, but they don't realize that there are conditions and there is a process of certification. They don't recognize that if you don't have the certificate then you can't say you're organic," she said.

Bluma said ALOL was currently working with local authorities to educate rural communities about organic farming policy.

ETHICAL BEAUTY

Latvia's green movement is not solely confined within the farming sector.
Earlier this year Latvian eco-cosmetics producer Madara opened a new concept store in Riga.
The store, located in Alfa Shopping Center, was designed according to environmentally friendly principles, using chemical free paints and energy saving lighting.
Madara managing director Lotte Tisenkopfa said the company, which currently exports to 15 countries including France, Denmark, Japan and the U.K., was seeking to strengthen its brand within the Latvian marketplace.

"Opening the first ever Madara store is the fulfillment of a long held dream… we're delighted that Madara is continuing to grow in this difficult climate," Tisenkopfa explained.
"Madara is one of the companies whose export results strengthen the Latvian economy. We hope that our growth will also inspire other entrepreneurs to look to the future with optimism."
The green movement has also drawn support from Latvia's political elite.
"I've always supported natural and economically clean things. In this industrial era, people are far removed from that which is natural and real. And yet here, we see a return to these basic values which it is clear that people do appreciate," said Latvian First Lady Lilita Zatlere, following the opening of the Madara store.

Bluma believes further innovation and development in Latvia's ecological industries is dependent on increased government support, effective policy and continued marketing campaigns.
"At the moment the reasons for producing organically have become less… It's quite hard to say what the future holds."