The Soil Association's Food and Farming Report also reveals that almost twice as many organic crops are being grown in the UK compared with a year ago, with nearly 80% of households buying organic products.

The challenge ahead is to encourage consumers and retailers to increase their support for UK farmers by choosing home-produced organic food

Patrick Holden, Soil Association

But the SA wants more retailers to stock the products and more people to buy them so that it pays for farmers to go organic.

The data is the most comprehensive survey of the organic market, drawing on information from organic businesses, retailers, 15,000 shoppers and government.

It showed that half of all parents now buy organic baby food and most people buy at least some organic food if only occasionally.

But it shows 70% of organic food is still bought by only 8% of households.

The amount of land given over to organic production has almost doubled in the last year.

'Exciting time'

The report shows the area of fully organic land is equivalent to three times the size of Greater London - around 458,600 hectares.

There are nearly 4,000 licensed organic farms throughout the UK and the south-west of England remains the most popular region for organic farms.

Patrick Holden, Soil Association Director, said: "This is an exciting time for the organic industry, which is one of the fastest growing areas of the UK food and drink sector.

"The majority of households now buy organic food, all the leading supermarkets see organic food as a major growth area and in the last year, organic farming has been given crucial financial backing from the government."

Too much milk

But the figures also show that the UK is not producing enough of certain foods such as cereals, fruit and beef, which have to be imported.

On the other hand the UK does produce too much organic milk and lamb.

The Soil Association report calls for: