Released May 6, 2009
AMES, Iowa -- The organic industry continued to grow in 2008 according to an industry survey from the Organic Trade Association. The sale of organic meats rose but still account for less than one percent of the U.S. food sales of meat, fish and poultry.
"I'm encouraged that despite the economic recession, organic meat sales grew 12 percent this past year,” said Iowa State University’s Arion Thiboumery, coordinator of ISU Extension’s Small Meat Processor Working Group. “While this is a small niche, I think livestock producers and meat processors can rest assured that organic is here to stay and there will continue to be growth in this area, particularly by combining organic with other marketing aspects such as local."
Organic food sales reached nearly $22 million in 2008, an increase of 15.8 percent from 2007.
Fruits and vegetables comprise 37 percent of organic food sales. Dairy follows at 16 percent and non-dairy beverages make up 14 percent of total organic food sales. Organic food totaled about 3.5 percent of all U.S. food sales.
Organic food producers sell to consumers via a variety of channels. National natural and mass-market food chains are the leading channels; each accounts for one third of sales. Regional natural food chains and independent health food stores make up about 10 percent of sales.
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Arion Thiboumery, Iowa State University, (515) 294-2882, arion@iastate.edu
Lynette Spicer, eXtension, (515) 294-1327, lspicer@iastate.edu
