USA: Opportunities rising for organic produce growth

According to results presented by Nielsen, the products that have made the largest gains in organic sales are those that are “closest to the point of consumption” — that means, products that don’t have to be peeled, said Matt Lally, associate director at Nielsen Fresh.

Among the hottest organic produce items are Berries and mushrooms, corn could be next. Organic apples also are a growth category.

As the industry develops better organic nutrition and organic crop protection tools, organic produce growing should become a little easier and a little less risky.

Comparing to conventional grow, grapes, onions and mandarins all rank in the top 10 for sales, but aren’t hitting the top 10 for organic sales. 

Value-added products could be another growth area for the organic category, said Tonya Antle, co-founder and executive vice president of Organic Produce Network, Monterey, Calif.

Nielsen figures indicate that organic snack and grab-and-go products make up just 3%  (US$121 million)

"Organic still makes up a relatively small percentage of category sales, so there are opportunities to provide consumers with a deeper understanding of how organic produce is grown and harvested,” said Bil Goldfield, director of corporate communications for Dole Food Co., Westlake Village, Calif.

“What the organic consumer is looking for the most is authenticity and transparency in their food choices,” Goldfield said.

Source: www.thepacker.com