Organic, gluten-free rising - Coldiretti

(ANSA) - Parma, May 9 - Purchases of gluten-free food rose 50% in 2015 and organic food purchases were up 20% in the same year, said Coldiretti farmers' group on Monday in a study released on the opening day of the 2016 Cibus international food fair.
    Coldiretti will host a parmigiano reggiano auction at its pavilion at Cibus on Monday, with proceeds going to charities that support family farming in the world's most impoverished areas.
    Coldiretti said the increases - which also include higher demand for non-GMO and locally produced foods - are due to an increased awareness and interest in well-being, physical fitness and health, as well as an increase in food allergies.
    It said a recent study by supermarket chain Coop revealed that 70% of Italians are willing to pay more for all-natural foods, 65% are willing to pay more for non-GMO foods, 62% for organic foods, and 60% for foods without colorants.
    Two in three Italians regularly purchase typical food products linked to the places where they live, and 15 million buy locally produced foods, the study said.
    Coldiretti said the increase also involves international consumers, with about one in five Italian exported food products carrying a DOC label, the quality assurance guarantee of product origin.
    In 2015 Italy hit a record 36.8 million euros' in food-farming business exports, a figure that has virtually doubled over the past 10 years, up 74% since 2005, Coldiretti said.