U.S.: Organic product sales reach 26.6 billion U.S. dollars in 2009

In fact, organic product sales in 2009 grew by 5.3 percent overall, to reach 26.6 billion US dollars. Of that figure, 24.8 billion US dollars represented organic food. The remaining 1.8 billion U.S. dollars were sales of organic non-foods.

“While total U.S. food sales grew by only 1.6 percent in 2009, organic food sales grew by 5.1 percent. Meanwhile, organic non-food sales grew by 9.1 percent, as opposed to total non-food sales which had a 1 percent negative sales growth rate. 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,” said Christine Bushway, OTA’s Executive Director.

Experiencing the most growth, organic fruits and vegetables, which represent 38 percent of total organic food sales, reached nearly 9.5 billion U.S. dollars in sales in 2009, up 11.4 percent from 2008 sales. Most notable, organic fruits and vegetables now represent 11.4 percent of all U.S. fruit and vegetable sales.

Since the approval of the final National Organic Program rule published in 2000, sales of organic fruits and vegetables have grown from 2.55 billion U.S. dollars, representing approximately 3 percent of all fruit and vegetable sales, to the nearly 9.5 billion U.S. dollar level and 11.4 percent penetration level. Meanwhile, during that time, organic food sales have grown from 6.1 billion to 24.8 billion U.S. dollas in 2009, jumping from 1.2 percent of all U.S. food sales to 3.7 percent.

The mass market channel had the lion’s share of organic food sales in 2009, with 54 percent of organic sold through mainstream grocers, club stores and retailers. Natural retailers were next, with 38 percent of total organic food sales. Although still representing a small percentage of sales, farmers’ markets, co-ops and CSA (community-supported agriculture) operations gained a lot of interest as consumers increasingly look for locally and regionally produced organic foods.

In the organic non-food sector, organic supplements led, with 634 million U.S. dollars in sales, representing 35 percent of total organic non-food sales, Organic supplement sales were 12 percent higher than in 2008. Organic fiber (linen and clothing) totaled 521 million U.S. dollars in sales, up 10.4 percent, while personal care products, at 459 million U.S. dollars, were up 3.7 percent from 2008 sales.

Source:  U.S. Organic Product Sales Reach $26.6 Billion in 2009. OTA press release of April 22, 2010. The OTA Homepage 

More information

Order report

• The 70-page report is available for purchase, priced at 795 U.S. dollars for OTA members and 1,495 U.S. dollars for non-members at OTA.com: Organic industry survey

Links

• OTA.com: Organic industry survey 2010
  
• OTA.com: The Organic Trade Association's 2009 Organic Industry survey — May 2009. Organic Trade Association. Executive summary.
  OTA.com: Homepage of the Organic Trade Association OTA
• Organic-World.net: U.S.