Argentine pome fruit growers are reaping the benefits of organic fruit demand in the European Union, positioning themselves as the leading suppliers outside the community.

A report from the EU's Directorate-General of Agriculture and Rural Development shows Argentina is the top exporter of organic apples and pears to the EU with an annual volume of 30,000 metric tons (MT).

This represents 20.7% of the market, with Argentina's National Service of Agri-food Health and Quality (Senasa) noting strict rules and controls for compliance with organic standards.

But the opportunities are not just in Europe. Senasa highlights growing demand for organic products worldwide, led by the U.S. is the top buyer in the category with 47% of the total, followed by Europe with 37%.

The Argentine government body pointed to a doubling of the European market for organic goods in the past 10 years, while the growth rate stood at 11% from 2016 to 2017.

Argentina has one of the globe's largest surface areas dedicated to organic production, according to Senasa, with more than three million hectares.