Economic slump impacts UK's organic egg market

Sales in the UK's once-thriving organic egg sector seems to be running out of steam due to a slump in the economy.

Organic Farmers & Growers' chief executive, Richard Jacobs, said organic egg producers are now feeling the pain from lower sales and some are moving out of organic production while a few others are taking some flocks out of organic status.

Sales data show a 4.1 percent decline in volume of sales over the 12 month period up to 13 July 2008, with sales in the past four weeks down a sharper 13 percent compared to the same period last year, according to Farmers Weekly Interactive.

Industry players concede the market is slowing but believes that the egg market, being cyclical, would pick up again.