SUPERMARKETS are today accused of failing British farmers by importing "substantial amounts" of organic produce.
The Soil Association says the big chains are getting fresh meat and vegetables from abroad, even when the produce is in season in the UK.
A survey found just 19% of organic onions at Asda, for example, came from the UK.
Most of the other chains did little better, with 20% of organic onions on sale at the Co-op, 23% of those at Sainsbury's and 26% at Safeway obtained from British growers.
The Soil Association said: "Considering that onions grow well in the UK, this is a very disappointing result."
There was a mixed picture for organic cauliflower in the survey, ranging from 81% from UK growers at Sainsbury's down to 30% at Asda and 13% at Safeway.
The Soil Association was particularly concerned about those supermarkets importing organic pork because of what it believes are lower welfare standards in some other countries.
Twenty-three per cent of organic pork surveyed at Asda was imported, while at Tesco the figure was 50%. On the other hand, all the organic pork on sale at Safeway and Waitrose and 96% at Sainsbury's came from the UK.
