There is no doubt that natural and organic foods are here to stay. A recent survey conducted by the Natural Marketing Institute (Harleysville, Pa.) and the Organic Trade Association (OTA, Greenfield, Mass.) revealed that 43% of U.S. consumers purchase organic products.1 That is a very positive number, considering the National Organic Standards (NOS) were not in effect until October 2002.
The organic industry (food and non-food) reached $10.8 billion in consumer sales in 2003. Organic foods, the largest segment of the organic industry, grew 20% last year, reaching $10.4 billion. Sales of organics have grown between 17% and 21% each year since 1997, compared with total U.S. food sales, which grow at an average rate of 2% to 4% a year. By the end of 2005, retail sales of organics could reach up to $20 billion a year.2