US Organic Food Food & Beverage Sales Continue Rising
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 07.21.07
US Organic food sales were still growing rapidly in 2006 (3% of total food & beverage sales), but have not yet reached the market share already achieved in Europe (7-10% of total).
"U.S. organic food sales totaled nearly $17 billion in 2006, up 22 percent over the previous year, according to preliminary findings from the Organic Trade Association's 2007 Manufacturers Survey. In the U.S., organic foods' share of total retail sales of food and beverages was up to about 3 percent, up from 1.9 percent in 2003 and approximately 2.5 percent in 2005."
"About 31 percent of overall organic sales in 2006 were through mainstream supermarkets/grocery stores, and 24 percent were through the leading natural food supermarket chains such as Whole Foods, Wild Oats, and Trader Joe's, according to the OCA."
"Another 22 percent of all organic sales were through independent, small chain natural grocery stores. Food service sales still represent a small fraction of total organic sales at 3 percent of overall organic product sales, OCA said."
Via:: Redwood Falls Gazette, Minnesota, USA Image credit:: Free Range Graphics, Store Wars Video (playable directly here).
I wonder how much of this growth is driven by the rise of big corporate organics, owned by big food here, or imported from places like China.