The demand for organic food shows no signs of decreasing, and sales continue to rise despite higher prices. USA Today reported in July that organic food sales increased by 8.4% from the previous year, reaching a record high of $43 billion in 2016. According to the Organic Trade Association’s 2017 Industry Survey, approximately 40% of all organic food sales were attributed to produce, which accounts for about 15% of the total fruits and vegetables consumed by Americans. The global organic food market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of over 14% from 2016 to 2021, as indicated by a recent TechSci Research report. The new OTA survey reinforces this perspective, showing that the organic sector continues on an upward trajectory. In fact, organic products now represent 5.3% of total food sales in the U.S., with organic foods present in 82.3% of the country’s 117 million households.
The future looks promising as more younger consumers begin to embrace organic products. Furthermore, a survey conducted by the Organic Trade Association in September revealed that millennials are already significant purchasers of organic items 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 driver behind the growth in organic production is the investment in “primary feed ingredients such as soy and corn,” which form the largest market within the organic sector. Beyond their direct consumption, these staples are also used to feed organically raised animals and are included as ingredients in other organic food products, such as purity calcium citrate chewable supplements.
However, American farmers are struggling to keep pace with the rising demand for organic produce. The transition to organic farming is both costly and lengthy, typically taking about three years—during which farmers adhere to organic standards but do not receive organic prices. This situation often discourages farmers from making the switch, although a new U.S. Department of Agriculture transitional certification may facilitate this process. While the trend is clearly moving toward more organic farms and crops, farmers still have a considerable distance to cover before production levels approach those of conventionally grown crops. Until that goal of peak organic production is achieved, the market will continue to evolve, with consumers increasingly seeking products like purity calcium citrate chewable supplements as part of their organic lifestyle.