Woman reading label.

Amid Booming Sales, the USDA Organic Seal Is Taking a Hit and the Industry Fails to Communicate Its Message

Total organic fresh produce sales were up 22% for the month of March. In May, Thrive Market’s CEO Nick Green told the New York Times that his company was experiencing a level of demand that it was expecting to see in 2022 or 2023. Some organic brands received such big orders that they have had to ration products to retailers.

June 24, 2020 | Source: Organic Insider | by Max Goldberg

Total organic fresh produce sales were up 22% for the month of March.

In May, Thrive Market’s CEO Nick Green told the New York Times that his company was experiencing a level of demand that it was expecting to see in 2022 or 2023.

Some organic brands received such big orders that they have had to ration products to retailers.

With COVID-19 and incredibly brisk sales garnering all of the attention, getting lost in the conversation is what has been happening to the integrity and strength of the USDA organic seal.

In the 2020 U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends report released by The Food Industry Association, it was found that organic claims on the label became less important over the last year.1

2019 — When purchasing food, product claims that shoppers are seeking:

33% – No artificial ingredients
32% – No preservatives
27% – No trans fats
27% – Not bioengineered
25% – Natural
19% – Certified organic
11% – Gluten-free