About EBF

Organisation and members

Europäisches Bioobst-Forum has full members and supporting members.

Full members are regional or national groups of organic fruit growers that have allied to form these sorts of groups. These groups can be organised within their regions or countries as cooperatives, growers‘ organisations, grower associations or societies. They collect production and market information jointly or have arranged to market their products together. The groups of organic fruit growers must consist of a minimum of five organic fruit farms. One elected or appointed representative per each 25 members or part thereof has a seat and vote in the General Meeting. The voting rights can be transferred by written declaration upon approval of the majority of members.

Supporting members can be companies, growers‘ organisations, cooperatives or associations that mainly pool organic fruit from ordinary members‘ farms and, to this end, established their own structures or independent departments. They market the products to retailers, food traders, budget supermarkets and processors.

Supporting members can be invited to attend the General Meeting as guests. They adopt an advisory function in all issues relating to the market and underlying conditions for organic fruit. They support EBF by regularly providing information on production and market development. They finance the capture and processing of relevant information by paying a contribution.

Europäisches Bioobst-Forum is managed and represented by a steering committee of three volunteers and an executive committee. The supporting members appoint one advisory member to the steering committee. Both the steering committee and the executive committee are elected by the General Meeting for a period of three years. Two auditors act as supervisors in financial matters.

Our Brief

• To survey the entire organic yield of the year in question.
• To compile stock figures of organic apples and pears on a regular basis.
• To engage in organic market research and gather additional information about the organic market.
• To draw up comments on European and regional organic food regulations and laws.
• To give advice to full members in approval procedures for organic equipment.
• To facilitate the exchange of experience in all issues of production, such as varieties, organic control of pests and diseases, soil management, etc.

Membership

Full members

Admission as full members can be granted to groups of organic fruit growers with a minimum of five members who are individual organic growers and with a combined annual output exceeding 2,000 tonnes of hard fruit or 500 tonnes of stone and berry fruit. The EBF subscription that applies to any one group of organic fruit growers depends on the number of member companies and will be determined by the General Meeting. Full members agree to the following responsibilities:

1. To provide a list of the group’s member companies, including the respective production area and crop figures.
2. To elect or appoint the representative(s) for each 25 members or part thereof at the EBF General Meeting.
3. To capture and report crop forecasts, harvest output figures and the development of production area.
4. 4. To provide information on national laws in the context of applicable EU organic legislation.

Members receive the following benefits from EBF:

1. Up-to-date edited summaries of reported figures
2. Information on European legal provisions that apply to organic fruit production
3. Up-to-date information on trends in production and market development

Supporting Members

Admission as supporting members can be granted to companies, cooperatives, growers‘ organisations and other organisations that market EBF members‘ organic fruit. They must have their own independent organic fruit marketing structures in place. The General Meeting decides whether applicants are accepted. Supporting members agree to the following responsibilities:

1. 5 relevant information on market issues.
2. To fund the reporting system.
3. 3To co-fund the implementation of EBF’s tasks.

Supporting members receive the following benefits from EBF:

1. Up-to-date edited summaries of reported figures
2. Information on European legal provisions applying to organic fruit production
3. Up-to-date information on trends in production and market development

Written applications for membership can be submitted to Europäisches Bioobst-Forum. The General Meeting decides on whether to accept the applicants.