Organic Foods Thrive on Food Safety Concerns

Organic Foods Thrive on Food Safety Concerns

CHICAGOThe Mintel Group(www.mintel.com) released its latest report on organic foods, which statesincreased concerns for food safety have triggered an 81 percent market growth.The growth occurred between 2001 and 2004 and is expected to reach over $5.3billion, according to the report. In 2002 and in 2004 roughly half of allrespondents of Mintels research stated they were highly concerned aboutfood safety and another third described their concern as at a medium level.

The percentage of Americans who purchased organic foods atleast occasionally increased from 37 percent in 2002 to 44 percent in 2004. Onekey comparison between 2002 and 2004 is the breakdown by age of Americans whopurchase organic foods. All age groups were at least as likely to purchaseorganics in 2004 as in 2002, with the biggest increases for those age 18 to 24(49 percent versus 34 percent) and 55 to 64 (45 percent versus 25 percent).

The report also points out the expansion of availability oforganic foods in chain supermarkets has aided in the growth.

Additional growth is also coming from the expansion ofavailability of organic foods in chain supermarkets and local farmers markets.While not part of the retail market for organics, local farmers markets haveexpanded steadily, the report reads. This channel does much to raiseawareness and promote the organic category as many of its members are smallfarmers who are likely to be producing organically.