Sales of retail organic produce have stayed consistent in 2023. However, inflation and economic uncertainty have slowed growth. Last year, retail organic produce made up 10.3% of total retail produce sales, according to data from Circana featured in The Packer’s Organic Fresh Trends 2024 survey. Overall retail organic produce volume was down 3.1% from 2021, amounting to 2.62 billion pounds in 2022. However, the average product price was up 5.1% at $2.98 per pound.

Circana surveyed more than 1,100 consumers in mid-October to learn trends on if and how they purchase organic produce. Respondents most often said they bought the following products exclusively as organic: pluots (plum and apricot hybrid), artichokes, kale, apricots, pomegranates, cranberries, Asian pears, sprouts and papayas. Consumers reported least or never purchasing as exclusively organic commodities, including cantaloupe, onions, nectarines, sweet corn, clementines, potatoes and watermelon.

When asked why they purchase organic, consumers answered with reasons of personal health (51%), environmental reasons (44%), food safety or chemical avoidance (55%) or other (6%). Of those surveyed, they most option shop at chain superstores such as Walmart, Target or Costco.

Read more on organic purchasing trends here.