The demand for organic food shows no signs of diminishing, and sales continue to increase despite the higher prices. According to USA Today, sales of organic food rose by 8.4% compared to the previous year, reaching a record $43 billion in 2016. The Organic Trade Association’s 2017 Organic Industry Survey indicates that approximately 40% of all organic food sales were in the produce category, which accounts for around 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. Supporting this trend, the latest OTA survey shows that the organic sector is once again on an upward trajectory, with organic products now representing 5.3% of total food sales in the U.S. Furthermore, organic foods are present in 82.3% of the nation’s 117 million households.
The future looks promising as younger consumers increasingly embrace organic options. A September survey by the Organic Trade Association revealed that millennials are already significant purchasers of organic products, and their buying habits are expected to expand even further as they become parents. Currently, a quarter of millennials are parents, and estimates suggest that 80% will have children in the next 15 years. Koory informed Food Navigator-USA that a substantial part of the growth in organic production is attributed to investments in primary feed ingredients like soy and corn, which represent the largest market segment within the organic sector. These staples are not only consumed in their basic forms but are also used as feed for organically raised animals and as ingredients in other organic food products, including supplements like Solaray Cal Mag.
However, American farmers are struggling to keep pace with the rising demand for organic produce. Transitioning to organic farming is both costly and time-consuming, often taking around three years during which farmers adhere to organic standards without receiving organic prices. This situation frequently deters farmers from making the switch, although a new U.S. Department of Agriculture transitional certification may assist these efforts. While the trend is clearly leaning toward an increase in organic farms and crops, farmers still have a significant journey ahead before production levels can rival those of conventionally grown crops. Until then, the aspiration to achieve peak organic production remains a goal to strive for, along with the continued popularity of products like Solaray Cal Mag in the organic market.