The organics philosophy: promoting hygiene and well-being

In 2023, the number of organic producers rose by 18%. Since consumers support a healthy diet and the environment, organic products are growing in popularity. What is meant by organic? We discussed this matter with Anna Hvorostyana, the director of the AgriVolga agricultural holding's Strategic Marketing Department.

For more than a decade, Russia's organic product market has been growing. One of the pioneers of this sector, AgriVolga Holding, began operations 15 years ago. Its businesses in the Yaroslavl region's Uglich district make organic meat and dairy products. The Russian Ministry of Agriculture now has 177 organic producers recognised in its Unified Register of Organic Producers. 53% of producers work in the sector of crop production, followed by processed goods (37%) and livestock products (8%).

Legislative assistance has gradually been given to the Russian organic industry. In 2020, Russia implemented Federal Law No. 280-FZ "On Organic Products...", which establishes conditions for organic production, including required certification, and protects the rights of organic farmers. The Strategy for the Development of Organic Production until 2030, which aims to encourage and promote the Russian organic industry, was approved in 2023.

If we take the term "organic production" and simplify it,  the most crucial points will be: chemicals are not used at all in the process of the production of organic goods or animal feed. No pesticides or herbicides are used, and chemical fertilisers and plant protection products are forbidden. "Thus, the entire production cycle, starting from the purchase of seeds and the quality of the fields' land and ending with the creation of a ready-made product, is absolutely protected from chemicals," states Anna Hvorostyanaya. Even the machinery used to produce organic goods is protected because they aren't utilised to produce traditional industrial goods.

Organic farms provide the most natural environment for their animals. "This is the principle of free grazing: cows, sheep, and goats go to pastures themselves, and these are necessarily clean meadows that are not neighbouring any enterprises, and the crops are not affected by chemicals," Anna Hvorostyanaya states. Animal feeds made for the winter months are likewise made entirely of organic ingredients rather than chemical additives. Antibiotics, growth hormones, and other chemicals are not used, and if the animal becomes ill, it remains in quarantine for a longer period of time to ensure that the medications are fully removed from the body. This is about protecting the health of consumers and animals.

Organic products have natural flavour. It can occasionally seem specific for the consumers, but this is because the organic products don't contain flavourings, preservatives, or flavour boosters."Organic food tastes natural. The benefit of organic products is that they are far healthier than the conventional ones. Furthermore, organic items may have distinct tastes. For instance, the product lines of our brand "Ugleche Pole" include both goat cheeses with specific flavours and cheeses that have familiar traditional flavours. "We care for our traditions," says Anna Hvorostyanaya.

The organic cheeses "Ugliche Pole" ("Uglichsky," "Poshekhonsky," "Etelsky," "Uleima," and "Romanier") and premium cheeses are produced at the Uglichsky cheese and dairy plant. "We have also updated the packaging design," explains Anna Hvorostyanaya. The "Ugleche Pole" brand logos in dark colours are used for the organic cheese line. Premium cheeses of the same kind come in white logo packaging. This simplifies our clients' identification of their preferred cheeses on store shelves.

Actually, for businesses in the organics industry, their operations turn into a philosophy." For us, organics is a true mission. For this reason, AgriVolga is actively engaged in both legislative and educational activities, much like many other organic producers who promote the integrity and openness of the market. To ensure that only genuine organic goods appear on the consumer's table, it is crucial that he is protected from fakes. According to Anna Hvorostyanaya, "The organic products are labelled with a protected sign of a green leaf." Additionally, products marked "eco," "bio," or "green products" will need to have an organic certificate as of September 1, 2024.