Organic Food Sales Grew 22% in 2006

CHICAGO — Organic food sales totaled nearly $17 billion in 2006, representing 3% of total retail sales of food and beverages in the United States, the Organic Trade Association announced here at the All Things Organic show, citing preliminary findings from their 2007 Manufacturer Survey. Conventional supermarkets accounted for approximately 31% of total organic food sales, while leading natural food supermarkets — such as Whole Foods, Wild Oats and Trader Joe’s — accounted for 24%. Independent natural food stores netted 22% of organic sales. Organic dairy had a stellar year, growing 27%, while organic produce grew 7%. Otherwise, many of the industry’s categories posted booming sales off of relatively small bases. Organic beef, for example, grew 13.5%; organic baby food grew 21.5%; organic personal care items grew 11%, with organic hair care products growing 17%; and, organic women’s apparel grew 28 %. The final report, produced by Packaged Facts of Rockville, Md., is expected to be available in June 2007.