Full case study report: Biohof Achleitner - Austria

Summary

Biohof Achleitner is located in the fertile Eferding basin along the Danube in Upper Austria. The business has grown significantly in the last 15 to 20 years and is a good example of the growth potential of organic farming through diversification into several business branches and cooperation with other farms. In 1986 Mr. Achleitner and his wife took over the 20 hectare vegetable farm from his parents. In 1990 they converted fully to organic farming. Today, apart from their own agricultural production (farming of vegetables and grain) they also run an organic wholesale, an organic restaurant (‘Kulinarium’) and attached to it a small shop (‘Frischmarkt’) for vegetables, fruits, bread, wine, cheese, cosmetics and a variety of other products. Moreover, since 1998 they also started delivering organic products to households, which is currently the largest box scheme in Austria. Today, customers have the opportunity to decide between eleven different box offers (i.e. from office boxes to mother/child boxes) to be delivered every one or two weeks. Apart from fresh fruits and vegetables, the customers can also choose from a huge variety of other organic products as the ‚Biohof Achleitner’ complements his product line with imports of organic wholesalers and a number of domestic suppliers for various product groups. Furthermore, customers receive a weekly newsletter (‘Kundenbrief’) with ecological issues or cooking recipes, etc.