Organics continue to boom, says new report from Organic Trade Association

(www.Borganic.org) The Organic Trade Association (OTA) recently released the results of its 2010 Organic Industry Survey, which revealed that the organic products sector continues to boom. While many other sectors are barely increasing or even declining, the sales of organic goods increased by 5.3 percent in 2009.

A 5.3 percent increase translates into a total of $26.6 billion in sales throughout 2009, 93 percent of which represented organic food.

Organic fruits and vegetables represented 38 percent of the total organic food sales in 2009, or $9.5 billion in sales. This amount is up 11.4 percent from 2008 figures.

Since 2000, when the final National Organic Program rules were established, the organic fruits and vegetables market has increased nearly 375 percent. In 2000, organic fruits and vegetable sales represented three percent of produce sales overall, and today they represent 11.4 percent of overall produce sales.

Even more impressive is the overall growth of the organic sector since 2000, which has increased by more than 400 percent.

"These findings are indicative that even in tough times, consumers understand the benefits that organic products offer and will make other cuts before they give up products they value," explains Christine Bushway, the Executive Director of OTA.

And she is right, considering that total U.S. food sales grew by a mere 1.6 percent in 2009, while total non-food sales actually decreased by one percent throughout the year.

A breakdown of some of the other 2009 organic statistics is as follows:

- Organic supplements represented 35 percent of total organic non-food sales at $634 million. This represents a 12 percent increase over 2008 numbers.
- Organic fiber (clothing and linen) was $521 million, up 10.4 percent since 2008.
- Organic personal care products represented $459 million in sales, up 3.7 percent since 2008.

More than half of organic sales take place at mainstream grocers, club stores and retailers, but natural product stores are not far behind, representing 38 percent of total organic food sales. Increased demand for local and regional food also increased organic sales among farmers markets, cooperatives, and community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs.

Though the overall rate of growth in the organics sector has slowed some, actual sales continue to increase, indicating that people who purchase organic products do so because their health matters to them, despite current economic conditions. And people will continue to buy organics because they know they are pure, nutritionally superior and safe for the environment.

Sources:

U.S. Organic Product Sales Reach $26.6 Billion in 2009 - Organic Trade Association

Organics made up 11% of all fresh produce sales in 2009 - The Packer

CEO: Organic sales growing again - La Crosse Tribune

By Ethan Huff
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