Produce Was The Sales Star In The Organic Food Market In 2009, OTA Reports

The U.S. Organic Trade Association reports that organic produce sales continued double-digit growth (11.4 percent) in 2009, despite the economic slowdown, and was the only segment of the organic food market that didn’t lose ground. For example, sales of organic dairy and packaged/prepared foods declined one percent. According to the OTA, total 2009 organic sales in the U.S. were $26.6 billion, growing at a rate of 5.3 percent, while organic food sales grew by 5.1 percent. Total U.S. food purchases grew by 1.6 percent. The reason for the solid growth and sales? According to an OTA spokeswoman, Americans “were cooking more at home and not eating out as much, therefore they were still buying fruits and vegetables and bringing them home.” Produce accounts for 38 percent of the organic food market, the OTA said.