Dive Brief:
- Nielsen data released by the Organic Trade Association (OTA) found organic foods are in 82.3 percent of the country's 117 million American households, according to Food Business News.
- In 2016, the national average of organic consumption increased 3.4% from a year earlier. North Dakota reported the highest growth, with a 14.2% increase representing 85.6% of all households in the state.“These new findings show how important organic has become to millions and millions of American families everywhere,” said Laura Batcha, chief executive officer and executive director of the Organic Trade Association.
- Total organic food sales in 2015 were $39.7 billion, up 11% from 2014, according to the trade group's survey released in 2016.
Dive Insight:
A recent TechSci Research report showed the global organic food market is expected to increase at a CAGR of more than 14% from 2016 to 2021. Food manufacturers — including General Mills, which purchased organic foods maker Annie's in 2014 for $820 million —have embraced the trend as reports show consumers are interested in these products and are more likely to pay more for them.
While an increased emphasis on healthy living is often a reason people give for eating organic, studies are still mixed about whether it is really that much healthier for them. Those 18% who are not eating organic obviously don’t think so, and just because they are in the minority of the trend, doesn’t mean they are wrong. Some consumers are even picky about which products them buy, tending to flock toward organic strawberries or spinach that are seen as having the most pesticide residue.
Many choose to eat organic in an effort to reduce their body’s total toxic burden, and eating more nutritious foods is often cited as a reason by consumers as to why they made the switch. Still, while organic has become important in almost 90 million American homes, the true benefits are still being debated.