With market volatility and pantry loading subsiding, USA organic industry growth is shifting back toward historic trends, according to the Organic Trade Association’s latest Industry Survey.
The OTA Survey shows consumers returned to more stable, buy-as-you-need shopping patterns in 2021. Between 2020 and 2021, organic sales surpassed $63 billion, with $1.4 billion (2%) total growth over the year. Food sales, which comprise over 90% of organic sales, rose to $57.5 billion (roughly 2% growth), and non-food sales reached $6 billion in sales (7% growth).
“Like every other industry, organic has been through many twists and turns over the last few years, but the industry’s resilience and creativity has kept us going strong,” says OTA CEO and Executive Director Tom Chapman. “In 2020, organic significantly increased its market foothold as Americans took a closer look at the products in their home and gravitated toward healthier choices. When pandemic purchasing habits and supply shortages began to ease in 2021, we saw the strongest performance from categories that were able to remain flexible, despite the shifting landscape. That ability to adapt and stay responsive to consumer and producer needs is a key part of organic’s continued growth and success”.
