2006 Organic Sales Up in the Billions

"U.S. organic food sales totaled nearly $17 billion in 2006, up 22 percent over previous year, according to preliminary findings from the Organic Trade Association's 2007 Manufacturers Survey.

Organic foods' share of total retail sales of food and beverages was about 3 percent, up from 1.9 percent in 2003 and approximately 2.5 percent in 2005. Sales in 2005 were $13.8 billion.

About 31 percent of overall organic sales in 2006 were through mainstream supermarkets/grocery stores, and 24 percent were through the leading natural food supermarket chains such as Whole Foods, Wild Oats, and Trader Joe's.

Another 22 percent of all organic sales were through independent, small chain natural grocery stores. Foodservice sales still represent a small fraction of total organic sales at 3 percent of overall organic product sales, OTA said."

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