WASHINGTON — Organic product sales grew at a faster clip than conventionally produced items in 2011 with growth of 9.5% vs. 4.5%, according to the Organic Trade Association’s 2012 Organic Industry Survey.
The organic food and beverage market was valued at $29.2 billion, while the organic nonfood sector reached $2.2 billion in sales. Organic foods grew by $2.5 billion in 2011, with fruits and vegetables contributing close to half of those new dollars. The fastest-growing sector was meat, fish and poultry, up 13% over 2010. Organic food sales represent 4.2% of all U.S. food sales, up from 4% in 2010.
“Consumers are increasingly engaged and discerning when they shop, making decisions based on their values and awareness about health and environmental concerns,” said Christine Bushway, OTA’s executive director and chief executive officer, in a statement. “Price is still an issue, but with the wide availability of private-label products and many venues for organic products, they have many choices for where to shop and a variety of products from which to choose.”
