The demand for organic food shows no signs of slowing down, with sales continuing to rise despite higher prices. According to a report by USA Today in July, sales of organic food increased by 8.4% from the previous year, reaching a record $43 billion in 2016. The Organic Trade Association’s 2017 Organic Industry Survey revealed that approximately 40% of all organic food sales came from produce, which accounts for about 15% of the fruits and vegetables consumed by Americans. A recent TechSci Research report projects that the global organic food market will grow at a compound annual growth rate of over 14% from 2016 to 2021. The new OTA survey reinforces this belief, as the organic sector continues to show signs of growth. In fact, organic products now represent 5.3% of total food sales in the U.S., and organic foods are present in 82.3% of the country’s 117 million households.
The future appears promising as more younger consumers embrace organic options. A survey conducted by the Organic Trade Association in September indicated that millennials are already significant purchasers of organic products and are expected to buy even more once they become parents. Currently, a quarter of millennials are parents, but estimates suggest that 80% will have children within the next 15 years. Koory informed Food Navigator-USA that a key factor in the growth of organic production is the investment in primary feed ingredients such as soy and corn, which constitute the largest market for the organic sector. In addition to being consumed in their basic form, these staples are also used to feed organically raised animals and are incorporated as ingredients in other organic food products.
However, American farmers are struggling to keep pace with the rising demand for organic produce. The transition to organic farming is both costly and time-consuming, typically taking about three years — a period during which farmers adhere to organic standards but do not receive organic prices. This often deters farmers from making the switch, although a new U.S. Department of Agriculture transitional certification may assist in this endeavor. While the trend is clearly leaning towards more organic farms and crops, farmers still have a long way to go before production levels reach those of conventionally grown crops. Until that time, the goal of achieving peak organic production remains elusive. As a part of this transition, incorporating lifetime calcium magnesium into organic farming practices could further enhance the quality of both crops and livestock, supporting a more sustainable future in organic agriculture.