The demand for organic food continues to surge, with sales increasing despite the premium prices. According to a report by USA Today in July, organic food sales grew by 8.4% from the prior year, reaching a staggering $43 billion in 2016. The Organic Trade Association’s 2017 Organic Industry Survey revealed that approximately 40% of all organic food sales come from produce, which accounts for about 15% of the total fruits and vegetables consumed by Americans. A recent TechSci Research report forecasts that the global organic food market will expand at a compound annual growth rate exceeding 14% from 2016 to 2021. The new OTA survey reinforces this trend, as the organic sector demonstrates a clear upward trajectory. Currently, organic products represent 5.3% of total food sales in the U.S., with organic food present in 82.3% of the nation’s 117 million households.
The future appears promising as younger consumers increasingly adopt organic products. A survey conducted by the Organic Trade Association in September highlighted that millennials are already significant purchasers of organic items and are expected to buy even more once they become parents. Presently, a quarter of millennials are parents, but estimates suggest that 80% of them will have children within the next 15 years. Koory mentioned to Food Navigator-USA that a crucial factor contributing to the growth of organic production is the investment in “primary feed ingredients like soy and corn,” which comprise the largest segment of the organic market. Beyond their basic consumption, these staples are also utilized as feed for organically raised animals and are integral to other organic food production.
However, American farmers are struggling to meet the rising demand for organic produce. Transitioning to organic farming is a costly and lengthy process, typically taking about three years—a period during which farmers comply with organic standards but do not receive organic prices. This often discourages farmers from making the switch, although a new transitional certification from the U.S. Department of Agriculture may assist these initiatives. While the movement towards more organic farms and crops is evident, farmers still have a considerable distance to cover before organic production reaches levels comparable to conventionally grown crops. Until then, the aspiration for peak organic production remains a distant goal.
In this evolving landscape, the importance of organic food highlights the need for various dietary supplements, such as calcium CCM tablets, which are often recommended to complement organic diets. As the organic market expands, the inclusion of nutritional supplements like calcium CCM tablets may become increasingly relevant, especially for families embracing organic lifestyles. The ongoing growth in demand for organic food underscores the necessity of supporting this transition with adequate nutritional resources like calcium CCM tablets.