Source: Julie Larson Bricher, MEATINGPLACE, 5/21/18



In 2017, $45.2 billion in U.S. organic food sales contributed to a record total organic sales figure of $49.4 billion, up 6.4 percent from 2016, according to the Organic Trade Association’s (OTA) 2018 Organic Industry Survey. Total organic sales included new sales of almost $3.5 billion.

Total sales for organic meat, poultry and fish reached $1.2 billion in 2017, up 17.2 percent, a new record, and the first time that this category has broken through the $1 billion sales mark, according to OTA.

OTA reported that slow growth in the organic dairy and egg category affected the overall growth rate for organic food sales, which registered below the 9 percent growth rate in 2016. Despite this, OTA stated in a news release, the growth rate of total organic food sales grew 1.1 percent, with organic food products now accounting for 5.5 percent of the food sold in retail channels in the U.S.
OTA noted that slower growth in 2017 organic sales was not surprising, given that new channel and product expansions are becoming more incremental and various categories exhibit different trajectories of development as the organic market matures.
“The organic food market will see a steadier pace of growth as it matures, but it will continue to surpass the growth rate of the broader food market,” said Laura Batcha, OTA’s CEO and executive director. “Demand for organic is flourishing as consumers seek out nutritious and clean food that is good for their health and for the environment. That demand is driving innovation, and there are now so many organic options that we can all eat organic for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and everything in between.”

The association also noted that the withdrawal of a proposed rule to clarify livestock and poultry practices in March by the U.S. Department of Agriculture will likely continue to stifle organic egg sales versus increasing pasture-raised egg sales amid ongoing consumer confusion over humane animal welfare practices.

For more stories, go to www.meatingplace.com.