Conscious Consumers

Finally, a new Whole Foods just opened in Glen Mills, PA. And, to no ones surprise, opening day was a zoo!

Whole Foods says: "Our store provides a truly unique grocery store experience. We care about product knowledge, we care about quality standards, and we care about the Glen Mills community." 

Consumers tend to be willing to pay more for organics, which is why Whole Foods stores are popping up in suburban towns across America. 

• 78% of U.S. families are buying some kind of organic food
• 4 in 10 families say they are buying more organic products than they were a year ago
• 3 in 10 families say they are new entrants to the organic marketplace.
• 48% of parents said their strongest motivator for buying organic was their belief that organic products “are healthier for me and my children."

Other motivators included concern over the effects of pesticides, hormones and antibiotics on children, and the desire to avoid highly processed or artificial ingredients.

OTA's 2011 Organic Industry Survey found the U.S. organic industry grew at a rate of nearly 8% in 2010.

SO, what do you think?  Do you shop organic? Does the added cost turn you away or is it a valuable investment for you?

"Some more stats on organic food from Organic Trade Association’s 2011 Organic Industry Survey:

• U.S. sales of organic food and beverages have grown from $1 billion in 1990 to $26.7 billion in 2010. Sales in 2010 represented 7.7% growth over 2009 sales. Experiencing the highest growth in sales during 2010 were organic fruits and vegetables, up 11.8% over 2009
• Organic food and beverage sales represented approximately 4% of overall food and beverage sales in 2010. Leading were organic fruits and vegetables, now representing over 11% of all U.S. fruit and vegetable sales.
  
• Organic non-food sales grew 9.7% in 2010, to reach $1.97 billion.
  
• Total U.S. organic sales, including food and non-food products, were $28.682 billion in 2010, up 9.7% from 2009.
  

The report is available for purchase HERE. 

‏ @KatieGMG

Garden Media Group

Where ISN’T Mark Highland?

This just in on Green Profit's GP Buzz from Ellen Wells, who says she channeled Chris Beytes to write this clever headline and news report:

Where ISN’T Mark Highland?
He’s popping up everywhere these days. If being recognized by a non-industry publication is a sign of success, than the founder of the soil company Organic Mechanics has achieved it. In the pages of the December issue of Entrepreneur Magazine, no less! By all accounts, the magazine has had Mark on their radar for some time, and they’ve wanted to highlight the company’s meteoric rise since it was founded in 2006. Entrepreneur, uh? Some exposure!

It also helps that Mark’s line of organic potting soils is now in more than 50 Atlantic and Northeast region Whole Foods locations, that Mecca for the organic shopper. And, he’s now peddling his organic potting soils to eco-friendly gardeners in the Midwest with a new partnership with Midwest Trading Company. Retailers in Chicagoland and the surrounding states now can add Organic Mechanics soils to their organic soil offerings.

As Mark expands the business, he’s expanding the product line. A 100% organic seed starting blend comes online in January, just in time for gardeners to get their spring seeds going. What a busy guy! Where’ll he pop up next, I wonder?

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Right On!
Suzi

Garden Media Group