India is one of the world’s great organic farming nations — not by accident, but by deep structural advantage. The country holds the distinction of having the largest number of certified organic farmers in the world (over 1.5 million, as per APEDA data), and its organic agricultural land — spread across Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, and the northeastern states — produces a remarkable diversity of food products that are increasingly sought after in premium global markets.
The global organic food market was valued at over $220 billion in 2023 and continues to grow at approximately 12–14% annually, driven by health-conscious consumers in the European Union, the United States, Japan, South Korea, and the Gulf Cooperation Council. India, with its traditional farming knowledge, low pesticide dependency in many regions, and competitive production costs, is uniquely positioned to supply this demand. The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) under the Ministry of Commerce has been the institutional engine behind India’s organic food export growth, providing certification infrastructure, traceability systems, and market development support.
India exported organic food products worth approximately ₹10,000 crore (~$1.2 billion) in FY2023-24, with ambitions to significantly scale this figure by 2030. Here is a detailed look at the top 10 organic food products from India that are leading this export story in 2026.
1. Organic Basmati Rice
Primary Growing Regions: Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir Key Export Destinations: USA, European Union, Saudi Arabia, UAE, UK
Organic Basmati rice is India’s single largest organic food export by value, and in 2026 it continues to occupy that position comfortably. Basmati’s geographical indication (GI) status — which restricts authentic Basmati labeling to specific districts in the Indo-Gangetic plains of India and Pakistan — gives Indian organic Basmati a legally protected premium positioning in global markets that no other producing country can replicate.
What elevates organic Basmati beyond conventional Basmati in export markets is the combination of its famously long grain, aromatic character, and the absence of synthetic pesticide residues — a characteristic that EU regulators monitor closely through Maximum Residue Level (MRL) testing. Indian exporters like KRBL (India Gate), LT Foods (Daawat), and Tilda have invested in supply chains that trace organic certification from farm to port. Uttarakhand’s Dehradun Basmati, grown in the foothills of the Himalayas, commands particularly high premiums in European specialty retail.
2. Organic Turmeric (Haldi)
Primary Growing Regions: Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Maharashtra Key Export Destinations: USA, Germany, Japan, UK, UAE
Indian turmeric is, to put it simply, irreplaceable in global trade. India accounts for approximately 75–80% of global turmeric production and over 60% of global exports, making it the price setter and quality benchmark for the world. In organic form, Indian turmeric — particularly the Lakadong variety from Meghalaya, which has a curcumin content of 6–9% compared to the standard 2–3% — commands extraordinary premiums in functional food, nutraceutical, and Ayurvedic supplement markets globally.
The surge in demand for turmeric in the West — driven by its documented anti-inflammatory properties and the mainstreaming of “golden milk” and curcumin supplements — has directly benefited Indian organic turmeric farmers and exporters. In 2026, major Indian organic food exporters like Organic India, 24 Mantra Organic, and Sresta Natural Bioproducts are supplying organic turmeric powder and raw dried rhizomes to food brands, supplement companies, and retailers in the US and EU at significant scale.
3. Organic Wheat and Wheat Products
Primary Growing Regions: Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh Key Export Destinations: USA, European Union, Australia, Canada
Madhya Pradesh, which has the largest certified organic farmland area in India, is also the country’s most significant organic wheat-producing state. Indian organic wheat — particularly from the MP and Rajasthan belts — is exported both as raw grain and as processed products including organic whole wheat flour (atta), semolina (sooji), and wheat bran. The rise of artisan baking and clean-label packaged food in Western markets has driven demand for traceable, certified organic wheat from non-GMO origins, where Indian produce has a clear advantage.
One important structural advantage India holds in organic wheat exports is the absence of GMO wheat cultivation — India has not approved GM wheat varieties, meaning Indian wheat is inherently non-GMO, a fact that commands a premium in European markets where GMO labelling requirements are strict. Exporters including Sresta (24 Mantra) and Heritage Foods have been scaling their organic wheat and flour export operations to capitalize on this positioning.
4. Organic Spices (Black Pepper, Cardamom, Cinnamon, Ginger)
Primary Growing Regions: Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Sikkim, Meghalaya Key Export Destinations: USA, Germany, Netherlands, UK, Japan, UAE
India is the world’s largest producer, consumer, and exporter of spices — and in the organic segment, it holds an even more commanding position. The Spices Board of India has actively promoted organic certification among spice farmers in the Western Ghats and northeastern regions, resulting in a large pool of certified organic spice producers.
Kerala’s black pepper — often called “black gold” — is India’s most prestigious organic spice export, prized for its piperine content and complex aroma profile. Sikkim cardamom, grown in the world’s first fully organic state (Sikkim achieved 100% organic certification in 2016 under Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling), has earned a near-mythical status among specialty food buyers in Europe and Japan. Organic ginger from Meghalaya and organic cinnamon (both true Ceylon-type and Cassia varieties) from Kerala and Karnataka round out India’s organic spice export portfolio as major high-value categories in 2026.
5. Organic Pulses (Lentils, Chickpeas, Pigeon Pea)
Primary Growing Regions: Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh Key Export Destinations: USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Germany
India is the world’s largest producer and consumer of pulses, and its organic pulse exports are growing rapidly as plant-based protein diets gain mainstream acceptance globally. Organic red lentils (masoor), green lentils (moong), Bengal gram (chana), black gram (urad), and pigeon pea (toor/arhar) are all exported in certified organic form to buyers in North America, Europe, and Australia — where Indian pulses are used in ready-to-eat meals, vegan protein products, and health food retail.
The demand narrative here is compelling: pulses are a low-cost, high-protein, low-carbon food source, and organic certification from a country with established GI and traceability systems makes Indian organic pulses especially attractive to retailers building sustainable supply chains. Madhya Pradesh’s pulse belt — which overlaps significantly with its organic farmland — is the epicentre of India’s organic pulse export supply chain.
6. Organic Tea
Primary Growing Regions: Darjeeling (West Bengal), Assam, Sikkim, Nilgiris (Tamil Nadu) Key Export Destinations: Germany, USA, Japan, UK, France
Darjeeling organic tea is without question one of India’s most globally recognized organic food exports, and its GI protection under both Indian law and European Union regulations means that only tea grown in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal can legally be sold under that name. The Darjeeling tea estates — many of which converted to organic cultivation decades ago — produce a “muscatel” flavour profile that is entirely unique and has no agricultural substitute in any other part of the world.
Germany is the largest single buyer of Indian organic tea globally, with a sophisticated tea culture and strong consumer preference for certified organic, single-estate teas. Japan’s demand for premium organic green teas from the Nilgiris is another growing vector. The Tea Board of India has actively supported organic certification initiatives, and in 2026, Sikkim’s fully organic tea gardens — benefiting from the state’s certified organic status — are gaining recognition in specialty markets that previously focused exclusively on Darjeeling.
7. Organic Cotton (and Cotton-Derived Food Products)
Primary Growing Regions: Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh Key Export Destinations: EU (textile supply chains, cottonseed oil)
While organic cotton is primarily known as a textile fibre, it belongs on this list because organic cottonseed oil — a by-product of certified organic cotton cultivation — is a growing niche in India’s organic food export portfolio. India is the world’s largest producer of organic cotton, accounting for over 50% of global supply, and as organic cotton cultivation scales, the associated food-grade cottonseed oil production is also rising.
Beyond oil, organic cotton’s dominance in Indian agriculture is relevant to the food export story because it demonstrates India’s large-scale capability in managing certified organic production across millions of acres — a structural capacity that underpins the entire organic food export ecosystem. The discipline of organic cotton certification has also trained thousands of farmers in organic compliance, many of whom dual-cultivate food crops under organic management.
8. Organic Soybean and Soy Products
Primary Growing Regions: Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan Key Export Destinations: USA, Germany, Japan, Netherlands
Madhya Pradesh’s organic soybean belt is one of the most productive organic legume production zones in Asia, and India’s organic soybean and processed soy product (defatted soy flour, soy lecithin, soy protein isolate) exports have been growing steadily as food manufacturers globally seek non-GMO, certified organic soy — a scarce commodity given that over 90% of global soy cultivation is genetically modified.
Indian organic soybean’s non-GMO status is arguably its single greatest competitive advantage in European export markets, where consumer and regulatory sensitivity toward GMO ingredients is extremely high. In 2026, demand from German, Dutch, and Japanese food manufacturers for IP (Identity Preserved) non-GMO organic soy from India continues to grow, making this a category with significant headroom for expansion.
9. Organic Fruits — Mangoes, Pomegranate, and Bananas
Primary Growing Regions: Maharashtra (Alphonso mango, pomegranate), Andhra Pradesh (banana), Tamil Nadu Key Export Destinations: UAE, UK, Netherlands, USA, Japan
India’s organic fruit export segment is anchored by three premium products: Alphonso (Hapus) mangoes from Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra, pomegranates from Nashik and Solapur, and Cavendish and Nendran bananas from Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Each of these fruits carries significant commercial prestige in export markets and commands strong premiums in organic form.
The Alphonso mango, protected by a GI tag, is already the most expensive mango variety traded globally, and its organic-certified version — compliant with zero synthetic pesticide requirements — is a luxury product in UAE and UK specialty markets. Maharashtra’s pomegranate farmers, many of whom have shifted to organic practices under the Maharashtra Organic Farming Corporation’s guidance, are now supplying certified organic pomegranates and arils to European food processors. Banana exports, while smaller by value, are growing as organic produce sections in European supermarkets expand their sourcing from India.
10. Organic Herbs and Medicinal Plants
Primary Growing Regions: Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Kerala, Rajasthan Key Export Destinations: USA, Germany, France, Japan, UAE
India’s rich tradition of Ayurveda and traditional medicine has given it an unparalleled natural advantage in organic medicinal herb cultivation and export. Plants like Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Shatavari, Tulsi (Holy Basil), Brahmi, Neem, Amla (Indian Gooseberry), and Moringa are grown organically across India’s diverse agro-climatic zones and exported in dried, powdered, and extract form to pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and functional food companies worldwide.
The global adaptogen and superfood boom has directly benefited Indian organic herb exporters. Organic India, headquartered in Lucknow, is perhaps the world’s most recognized brand in certified organic Tulsi and Ashwagandha — selling its products in over 35 countries through health food retailers like Whole Foods, Holland & Barrett, and iHerb. Moringa powder from Tamil Nadu, positioned as a nutrient-dense superfood green, is one of the fastest-growing Indian organic herb exports in 2026, with demand surging particularly in the US, Germany, and the UAE.
The Structural Strengths Behind India’s Organic Food Export Growth
What ties all ten of these categories together is a set of structural advantages that India is steadily converting into market share. First, scale and diversity: no other developing country can produce certified organic versions of so many distinct, globally demanded food and spice categories simultaneously. Second, institutional support: APEDA’s National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) provides the certification framework that is mutually recognized by the European Union, Switzerland, and several other major import markets — removing a key trade barrier. Third, cost competitiveness: Indian organic produce, even at a premium to conventional, remains price-competitive relative to organic produce sourced from the EU or North America.
The challenge India must continue to address is post-harvest infrastructure and cold chain logistics — areas where investments are ongoing but where gaps still cause quality losses that limit the premium India can command. As these gaps close, and as global organic food demand continues its double-digit growth trajectory, India’s organic food exporters are positioned for a decade of meaningful expansion.
Note: Production and export data referenced in this article are based on APEDA reports, Spices Board publications, and industry estimates available through mid-2025. For the most current export figures, readers are advised to consult APEDA’s official data portal.
