Compared with the halcyon days of double-digit-plus annual growth for many of the past 20 years, the sales gain for retail organic produce in the U.S. is expected to be closer to 5%, an industry poll indicates.
The LinkedIn Fresh Produce Industry Discussion Group was asked to respond to the prompt, “The growth rate for retail organic produce sales in the U.S. this year will be ... “
With 172 votes, industry members expressed mixed ideas about the growth rate this year:
- 0 to 1%: growth: 17%.
- 2% to 4% growth: 36%.
- 5% to 7% growth: 24%.
- 8% or higher growth: 23%.
Just more than one-third of those polled expected organic sales growth between 2% and 4%, but nearly half were most optimistic. Twenty-four percent of those voting forecast sales growth rates of 5% to 7%, while 23% predicted retail organic sales gains of 8% or higher.
Last year the Organic Produce Network reported that organic fresh produce sales grew by 3% in 2022. That was down from a 5.5% gain for retail organic produce sales in 2021 and a pandemic-fueled 14% gain in 2020, according to OPN.
