The Danish Organic Market returns in September 2025, celebrating pesticide-free farming with open-farm events, communal dinners, and eco-friendly activities across 26 host farms.
Nationwide Organic Celebration Invites the Public Back to the Farm
For over 30 years, Denmark’s organic farmers have marked the end of summer with a signature tradition: welcoming the public to celebrate the harvest. This year, the beloved event returns as the Økologisk Høstmarked (Organic Harvest Market), taking place across Denmark on September 6 and 7, 2025. Spearheaded by the Organic Denmark Association (Økologisk Landsforening), this two-day countrywide festival invites city dwellers, families, and food enthusiasts to experience organic farming up close. Everyone can come and see where their food comes from and meet the farmers.
The event will be hosted on 26 different farms, from Jutland to Zealand, each transforming for the weekend into a lively Danish Market and gathering space. Freshly harvested produce, artisan goods, and hands-on activities await visitors looking to connect with a more sustainable approach to agriculture. There’s something fun for everyone to enjoy at these markets.
From Soil to Table: Taste and Learn
A core feature of the Danish Organic Market is its celebration of local, seasonal ingredients grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. On-site activities include everything from tomato picking and tractor rides to flour milling demonstrations and legume tastings. With eye-catching displays of colorful vegetables and a warm, rustic atmosphere, the event vividly showcases the benefits of organic farming.
Some farms will host communal long-table dinners, highlighting how healthy meals begin with responsible agricultural choices. These open-air meals aim to bring people together across generations and regions. They also reinforce the Organic Denmark Association’s broader mission to promote healthy, organic meals not just at home, but throughout schools, institutions, and communities.
Organizers expect thousands of visitors to attend—last year, over 20,000 people joined similar events hosted across the country.
New Paths for a New Generation of Farmers
In addition to connecting consumers to organic food, the event strengthens the bridge between Denmark’s cities and its countryside. A central example is Kalø Organic Agricultural School, which will again take part this year. The school trains future farmers in eco-conscious production on smaller plots of land, a practical solution at a time when many young people cannot afford to purchase large farms.
Instead, students learn the skills of upgrading raw ingredients and selling directly to consumers at markets and through community-supported agriculture. They are also taught how to communicate the added value of organic products—a critical lesson in today’s Danish organic market, where standards like animal welfare, sustainability, and transparency are increasingly vital to consumers.
Grassroots Events with National and EU Support
While each farm adds its own local flavor to the festival, the Økologisk Høstmarked is organized and promoted nationally by the Organic Denmark Association with funding from the Danish Organic Agriculture Foundation. This year’s program is partially financed through the European Union’s NextGenerationEU initiative, which supports green recovery and sustainable development across member states.
According to data from Danmarks Statistik, Denmark’s total organic food sales grew by 3% in 2024, reaching a turnover of DKK 16 billion (approximately USD 2.4 billion). Volume sales also saw a 2% increase, affirming growing demand for organic choices.
A Tradition with Deep Roots
Harvest festivals have long been a part of Danish agricultural life, originating as village celebrations for a successful crop season. The Danish Organic Market not only renews this heritage but modernizes it by aligning with contemporary values around climate action, health, and ethical food consumption.
As the climate changes and pressure grows for sustainable solutions, Denmark’s organic farmers continue to lead the way, inviting the entire nation to see—not just taste—what makes their methods different.
Visitors can find full details of participating farms and schedules at iloveoko.dk. Whether you’re interested in learning about organic livestock, trying new plant-based foods, or just enjoying a relaxing afternoon in the countryside, the Organic Harvest Market offers a rich experience for all ages.
