The Organic Market Report analysed the 2009 sales of 14 categories of produce.

The sharpest drop was recorded for bread and biscuits with poultry and game (28 per cent), meat (21 per cent), chilled convenience foods (19 per cent) and breakfast cereals (9 per cent) following.

Sales of organic baked foods represented 3 per cent of the total UK market.

The report stated: "Bread sales were hit by a combination of the economic downturn and problems with variable product quality," the Soil Association wrote in the report. "There are signs that in spite of this, some artisan bakers are moving forward, with high-quality products that continue to command strong support from a core of committed consumers.

"A key concern for 2010 is the uncertain availability of organic flour and other ingredients after the negative impact of a wet summer on the 2009 harvest. It is important to maintain the confidence of organic farmers in continuing to invest in and produce organic cereals."

However the Soil Association also noted that February 2010 sales showed a reduction in the rate of decline with organic bread sales cut to 9.4 per cent, biscuits to 2.5 per cent and breakfast cereals cut to 2.2 per cent.