Organic Food Sales Claim Greater Market Share

Organic food sales in the U.S. have grown from $3.4 billion in 1997 to $45.2 billion in 2017. Last year’s sales were up 6.4 percent year-over-year, well above the 1.1 percent growth in the overall food market. Organic sales claimed 5.5 percent of the nearly $822.2 billion in total sales.

The 2018 Organic Industry Survey was conducted in January by Nutrition Business Journal on behalf of Organic Trade Association, with 250 companies participating.

The growth rate was below the 9 percent increase seen in 2016 and the double-digit increases from 2012 to 2015, but some slowdown was expected as the organic market matures.

Produce remained the top organic category in 2017 with $16.5 billion in sales on 5.3 percent growth. Fresh produce accounted for 90 percent of those sales, but organic dried beans, dried fruits and dried vegetables increased 9 percent.

Source: Capital Press