Free-range egg expansion in the UK continues to roll ahead with output up by 840,000 cases in the first nine months of 2009.
This was a rise of 14% compared with 2008, although a large part of this has been organic producers reverting back to free range. The organic sector was down 300,000 cases during January-September.
From its peak of 371,000 cases in the second quarter of 2008, packing station throughput has seen a disastrous drop of 34% in the space of just over a year. That still leaves a net gain for free range of over half a million cases.
Back in the summer, latest figures on overall organic poultry numbers showed a 2% year-on-year decline to the end of 2008.
Organic Farmers and Growers explained at that time that the dip was due to cost-conscious shoppers looking to cheaper alternatives to organic eggs and chicken.
Source: Farmers Weekly
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