Sales of ethical fruit and veg in Europe have hit the €5 billion mark for the first time in 2007, according to new research by Organic Monitor.

Fairtrade fruit and vegetables are reporting the highest growth, with sales expanding by 92 per cent across Europe last year.

The UK is Europe’s most developed Fairtrade market, thanks to supermarkets like Sainsbury’s and Waitrose converting their entire banana stocks to Fairtrade last year.

The new report,called the European Market for Ethical Fruit & Vegetables, reveals that sales of organic and Fairtrade products have grown the most in northern European countries. More than five per cent of all fresh produce sold in countries including the UK, Germany and Finland is now certified organic and/or Fairtrade.