High levels of trust in organic during the COVID-19 crisis helped produce sales soar by 50%, and follows a 'banner year' for organic in 2019, says US trade body the Organic Trade Association (OTA).

The unprecedented pandemic this year – and its enormous impact on our everyday lives – has had dramatic consequences for the organic produce sector in 2020, says the OTA. And as shoppers search for healthy, clean food to feed their at-home families, organic food is proving to be the food of choice for home.

Many solid-growth organic categories have seen demand exploding. Organic produce sales for one, after jumping by more than 50% in the early days of kitchen stocking, were up more than 20% in the spring of 2020. Other categories experiencing softer growth have been seeing big boosts in demand: the run on groceries meant organic milk was in high demand, for example, and sales of organic eggs skyrocketed. Packaged and frozen organic foods saw double-digit growth as consumers upped at-home meal preparation.

Soaring sales during the Covid crisis build on a strong performance in 2019, says the OTA, which last week released its 2020 Organic Industry Survey OTA). In fact, says the Association, The US organic sector posted a banner year in 2019, with organic sales in the food and non-food markets totalling a record $55.1 billion, up a solid 5% from the previous year.

Both the food and non-food markets passed major milestones. Organic food sales hit $50.1 billion, up 4.6 percent. Organic non-food sales totalled just over $5 billion, up a strong 9.2%. Both sectors easily outpaced the general market growth rate of around 2% for total food sales and of just 3 percent for total non-food sales.

“Our 2020 survey looks at organic sales in 2019 before the coronavirus outbreak, and it shows that consumers were increasingly seeking out the Organic label to feed their families the healthiest food possible. The pandemic has only increased our desire for clean, healthy food,” said Laura Batcha, CEO and executive director of the Organic Trade Association. “Our normal lives have been brought to a screeching halt by the coronavirus. The commitment to the Organic label has always resided at the intersection of health and safety, and we expect that commitment to strengthen as we all get through these unsettled times.”

“ORGANIC PRODUCERS…HAVE BEEN WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK THROUGH THIS DIFFICULT TIME TO KEEP OUR STORES FILLED WITH HEALTHY, TOXIC-FREE AND SUSTAINABLY PRODUCED ORGANIC FOOD”

In the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak, the OTA led a multi-pronged effort to look not only at shifting patterns in organic shopping since the crisis began, but to gather intelligence on the overall retail landscape for organic, and on the organic supply chain – where the supply chain is holding together, and where it is being challenged.

The association also conducted an online flash poll of 3,188 “likely organic” shoppers in late April and early May. More than 90 percent of respondents indicated that in their current food shopping, organic is more important than ever.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Way it Was in 2019

Organic produce maintains top position
Organic generally still matters most to most US shoppers when they’re shopping in the fresh produce aisles. Organic fruit and vegetable sales in 2019 were up nearly 5%, hitting $18 billion, as the category continues to be the star of the organic sector, and often the starting point for organic food buying. Millennials and younger generations have grown up with organic, and remain the growth drivers for this category. Organic produce makes up almost a third of all organic food sales, and organic fruits and vegetables, including fresh, frozen, canned, and dried, have now captured 15% of the fruits and vegetables market in this country.

Organic dairy working its way out of oversupply; meat and poultry showing robust growth
In 2019, growth remained low for organic dairy, but late in the year, the category slowly started to move away from the period of oversupply of skimmed milk and not enough butterfat that hampered growth in 2017 and 2018. Overall, the $6.6 billion category grew at a rate of almost 2%. Organic dairy is holding its own, and growing faster than the conventional market, with the overall dairy category growing only 0.2%. Organic dairy and eggs accounted for just over 8% of the total dairy and eggs market. Organic meat, poultry, and fish remained the smallest organic food category in 2019, with $1.4 billion in sales, but the segment also saw almost 10 percent growth, the highest growth of any organic food category. Organic poultry remained the organic protein of choice, and the $865 million poultry market made up more than half of the sales for the organic meat, poultry and seafood category.

Spicing up home cooking with organic condiments
Although it is the second smallest organic food category, the the organic condiment category saw some of the biggest growth. Sales of organic ethnic sauces – curry, chipotle, sriracha, Korean BBQ – reached $77 million for the strongest growth rate ever of more than 23%. Organic ketchup sales also spiked in 2019 to $57 million, up almost 16%, thanks to healthier versions of this classic condiment, including sugar-free and low sugar offerings. Organic spices recorded $345 million in sales with more than 15% growth.

Outside the organic food tent, good growth in the non-food market
The organic non-food market crossed the $5 billion mark in 2019 for the first time, with strong growth of 9.2%. It now accounts for just over 9 percent of total organic sales. Growing concerns about toxins and chemicals not just in our bodies, but also on our skin, in our homes, and in our environment, along with wider availability of products, have created a robust market for the organic non-food sector.  Fibre sales – sales of clothing, bedding, mattresses – continued to lead the sector, and crossed the $2 billion mark in 2019, up just over 12%. Organic dietary supplements also were a standout, with sales up just over 10 percent to a record $1.7 billion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

What’s Ahead?

While there were certain growth trajectories taking shape going into 2020, the onset of COVID-19 turned the organic food marketplace upside down early in the year. Prior to 2020, the organic market has been growing steadily year over year. The US economy has been battered by the pandemic, and experts say there are a few ways that could play out for organic. Because people are price sensitive, there could be a slowdown in the growth of organic sales. Or, because people are increasingly aware of their health and looking for cleaner products, they may be willing to invest in premium products.

Influenced by COVID, all of the staples categories, from dairy and eggs, to breads, pastas, rice and grains and baking supplies, such as flour and baking yeast, are expected to see increased growth in 2020, provided supply can meet demand. In the non-food organic market, organic vitamins and immunity-related products are expected to see strong growth, as are organic supplements and household products.

“It’s hard to know what’s ahead of us, but consumers will continue to trust in and depend on the Organic label,” said the Organic Trade Association’s Batcha. “Organic producers and processors – indeed the entire organic supply chain – have been working around the clock through this difficult time to keep our stores filled with healthy, toxic-free and sustainably produced organic food and products. Organic is going to be there for the consumer.”

• This year’s Organic Industry Survey was produced on behalf of the Organic Trade Association by Nutrition Business Journal (NBJ). The full report can be purchased; online orders can be placed on here.