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Food Prices Boom, But Organic Still Sells

Despite rising consumer prices, revenues should reach $33B in 2008

By Rebecca Smith Hurd,  Newser User

Posted Sep 13, 2008 6:19 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Sales of pricey organic foods have remained strong despite rising food prices, proving organic naysayers wrong, Meredith Niles blogs in Grist. In fact the organics industry has enjoyed double-digit growth since 2005, and while it may not achieve such impressive numbers this year, the trend suggests that consumers are happy to pay more for organic apples than the usual waxy ones.

Shoppers would rather pay more for foodstuffs without pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, and growth hormones, Niles writes. Besides, the price gap between organics and regular foods is closing as oil costs climb: Regular egg prices climbed 68 cents per dozen over the past 3 years while organic ones rose only 3 cents. "Organic food growth has not taken the nose dive that some thought it would," writes Niles. "In fact, it's still thriving."

A customer picks out fruit while shopping at the Hannaford Supermarket in Quincy, Mass. The Hannaford grocery chain has begun a certified organic foods operation at all of there facilities.
A customer picks out fruit while shopping at the Hannaford Supermarket in Quincy, Mass. The Hannaford grocery chain has begun a certified organic foods operation at all of there facilities.   (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)
Tomatoes hang from a vine in the organic garden at Yale. Food is the new cause at the university, where students urge officials to use their purchasing power to buy locally grown or organic produce.
Tomatoes hang from a vine in the organic garden at Yale. Food is the new cause at the university, where students urge officials to use their purchasing power to buy locally grown or organic produce.   (AP Photo/Bob Child)
Kari Vincent shops at Food Fantasies, an organic and natural product grocery store in Springfield, Ill.
Kari Vincent shops at Food Fantasies, an organic and natural product grocery store in Springfield, Ill.   (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)
Customers Pam King and her son Rhys, 2, shop for organic groceries at the Whole Foods Market Arroyo Parkway store in Pasadena, Calif.
Customers Pam King and her son Rhys, 2, shop for organic groceries at the Whole Foods Market Arroyo Parkway store in Pasadena, Calif.   (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, file)
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