May 26, 2016

US organic sales reach $43.3 billion in 2015

The U.S. organic industry posted new records in 2015, with total organic product sales hitting a new benchmark of $43.3 billion, according to a survey by the Organic Trade Association. The organic industry is up a robust 11 percent from the previous year’s record level, the Organic Trade Association’s 2016 Organic Industry Survey reports.

The industry saw its largest annual dollar gain ever in 2015, adding $4.2 billion in sales, up from the $3.9 billion in new sales recorded in 2014. Of the $43.3 billion in total organic sales, $39.7 billion were organic food sales, up 11 percent from the previous year, and non-food organic products accounted for $3.6 billion, up 13 percent. Nearly 5 percent of all the food sold in the U.S. in 2015 was organic.

Organic Fruits & Vegetables are the largest of all the major organic categories with sales of $14.4 billion, up 10.5 percent, according to OTA. Almost 13 percent of the produce sold in this country is now organic, the association said.

OTA’s 2016 Organic Industry Survey was conducted and produced on behalf of OTA by Nutrition Business Journal. The survey was conducted from January 7 through March 25. More than 200 companies responded to the survey.

To read more about the survey, visit the Organic Trade Association website. The full report will be available for purchase in June.