What continued to grow right through the recession?
Local and organic foods, especially sold through farmers’ markets
and traditional supermarkets.
Carol Hazard wrote in the Richmond Times-Dispatch, March 21, 2011,
Organic, natural food catching on:
U.S. sales of organic foods and beverages grew from $1 billion in 1990
to $24.8 billion in 2009,
according to the Organic Trade Association.The sector saw double-digit growth — often more than 20 percent —
every year over the past decade except 2009, at the tail-end of the
recession. Even then, organic sales rose 5.9 percent from the previous
year while total food sales increased only 1.6 percent.
The article didn’t link to the study, but here it is:
Industry Statistics and Projected Growth.
Further from the Times-Dispatch article:
National grocers are pumping up their organic and natural food
selections. Even Wal-Mart and its Sam’s Club warehouse division are
paying attention.
