Researchers at the Aarhus University in Denmark, recently sought to investigate the consumer habits of those who purchase organic food items when they go grocery shopping. Their results on the shopping habits of thousands of households helped them to uncover some realities about the average consumer who tends to opt for organic items.
They discovered that organic consumers are likely to start out with milk as their first product, and that they would increasingly incorporate more organic items into their diet as time goes on. There has been previous mention of this pattern and reference to it as being an 'organic staircase,' but the researchers from this study describe it as more of an escalator shopping behavior pattern.
They say that once someone has made that first organic milk purchase, they are unlikely to stop purchasing organic items and they will likely broaden those items and purchase even more organic ones in the future.
They were provided their data for the study from the Danish supermarket giant known as Coop Denmark. They analyzed the shopping habits for those households over a period of almost two years, 20 months, and the data included details from roughly 10,000 households.
The organic market continues to see healthy growth and the global market for organic items is expected to see at least a 16 percent increase by 2020.
Millions of consumers continue to opt for organic when they go to the grocery store and more stores are choosing to broaden their selections and incorporate organic into the aisles and freezers.
With the uptick in preference for organic items at the store, there has also been many stories that have come out trying to negate the quality of organic items. And many have suggested that there isn't any difference to organic and non-organic grocery items.
But organic shoppers are not swaying from their habits, despite these allegations that they might be making a foolish decision to pay a higher price for something that isn't any more nutritionally beneficial to them than a non-organic item would be.
Researchers don't know exactly why that might be, but they assume that it might have something to do with shoppers connecting the organic preference with who they are. That they might see and connect their act of purchasing organic items with being connected to their perception of morality.
Popularity for organic products continues to see such tremendous growth in the US; allegedly organic suppliers have been struggling to keep up with the demand as of late.
In 2016 organic food sales were around $47 billion and for the organic food sales in the US it's produce that makes up roughly half of the market--40 percent.
Costco continues to be the biggest seller of organic products in the US right now, but there are many others out there as far as competition goes. There are also thousands of local farmers markets scattered around the country, and a number of new apps coming out that help to connect farmers with consumers; providing them a platform to sell their organic produce and dairy products.
Right now most of the sales for organic food items are taking place in California, they've got an organic market estimated to be around $2.9 billion.
Despite milk being the most likely gateway entry item for organic shoppers in Denmark, that might not be the case for other areas. It's also been suggested that packaged salads and organic produce are gateway items; in the US we can see that produce makes up a great deal of the organic sales.
Pics:
Pixabay
Sources:
http://www.foodnavigator.com/Science/Supermarket-shopper-habits-follow-an-organic-staircase-study-finds
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/09/170925095452.htm
http://www.foodandwine.com/articles/organic-milk-gateway-all-organic-food-buying
https://www.techsciresearch.com/news/462-global-organic-food-market-to-grow-at-over-16-by-2020.html
https://www.ota.com/resources/market-analysis
http://www.organicauthority.com/organic-berries-and-bagged-salads-top-organic-produce-sales/
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/costco-organic-produce-farmers-partnership_us_570d0a80e4b01422324a1f6c
http://www.businessinsider.com/costco-becomes-top-seller-of-organic-food-2015-6
Related Posts:
US Organic Suppliers Struggle To Keep Up With Demand
https://steemit.com/food/@doitvoluntarily/us-organic-suppliers-struggle-to-keep-up-with-demand
Another great post my friend ! I buy organic when its necessary and I know its better then "regular " ! We also prefer to grow all our own Vegetables as much as we can at my boyfriends in the country its for sure the best way to go as well as we have free range chickens !! Even better !! , that way we know exactly what we are eating , no pesticides included and it all tastes much better !! Thanks for sharing ! Upped and resteemed 👍👍👍💕💕💕
Beautiful garden!!!!!! I agree that homegrown does taste better.
Everything looks so healthy. I am a container-gardener; and, know that growing organically isn't as difficult as one might think. It just means staying watchful for how the garden is progressing.
Thanks for the pix!
Peace.
Your very welcome , so glad you liked it !💕✌👍💕
✌
Milk, interesting, would not have guessed that. Here in North Idaho, we have the luxury of buying raw milk, and it is awesome!
As promised ! Also upped and resteemed into my @momskitchen blog for my awesome foodie followers ! Keep up the great work my friend !👍👍👍💕😋
Living in SoCal, I can attest that it's very true that organic food market is big here and many people do start with the organic milk before moving on to other foods. Our family also started with milk back in 1994, and we now drive to nearby eggs farms and organic vegetables farms as much as we can. Btw, you have a habit of posting some great contents!!
Good poste!
I would love to buy organic but it's to expensive and also I'm lactose intolerant lol great post🌺
I buy organic and do it for many reasons, but your post raises a good point. We have a small group doing it for "moral" or "ethical" reasons, or whatever, but they are doing it for themselves or to make an ever so small impact on the world. But we have to transform from this at times status process of being able to buy the best and most exclusive and make THE ENTIRE FOOD SYSTEM from top to bottom more healthy, for all. Of course this would take enormous effort and transformation of resources, about which for most people food still remains an embarrassingly low priority. But yes, basic entry products are probably milk, eggs, cheese... and then other affordable items like some dry goods; cereals, pasta, beans, etc... and certain vegetables. Peace / Ty
I would use organic all the time, but cost is a factor
Well, I will go for any type of food as long as it is tasty and healthy.
Nice Post!
I used to tender avocado and citrus crops in the summer. Using organic "friendly" herbicide and pesticide sprays I had to fully suit up and wear an inhalator, whereas, with the no-organic crops, all I wore were gloves and a face mask.
I need to do more research on the benefits of organic food, but I like this article because it makes it a simpler decision to just start somewhere. In this case most people start with milk,so i might as well start there too. Thanks for making my decision easier hah.
Awesome informations thank you ! Organic food is a way of life, not a diet.
Informative post..we must use organic food...but it is not available in every nook and corner of the state.
I only eat organic! I love supporting local and small growers! ❤️
thank you!
im glad you are picking up on this.. nice to see some recent stats!
I wrote a post a long time ago about choosing Organic Eggs From Free Grazing Grain Fed Chickens.. It is one of the cheapest and easiest switches to make.. yet so few people make it.. !?
u can peruse it if you are curious!
https://steemit.com/food/@eco-alex/please-please-please-do-it-for-the-chickens
Will also up and resteemed once I log into my @momskitchen account ! To share with my foodie followers !!👍👍👍💕💕💕
I used to think this organic situation was ridiculous until I discovered I had estrogen dominance (very few doctors actually know how to deal with hormones so if you go to a "normal" doctor their tests won't show it). All of these pesticides and plastics disrupt our endocrine system and our hormones which causes all sorts of horrible health issues like cancer (hormone cancers like breast, uterine, prostrate) infertility, depressive disorders, metabolic disorders (being overweight, tired, thyroid issues, diabetes) etc. This is an invisible threat and probably in 10 years everyone will know about this. But for now your doctors just prescribe you crap to alleviate your symptoms so that you have other side effects, for which you need more drugs...because the pharma industry profits. Everyone should take responsibility for their own health with proper nutrition using organic foods and cleaning up psychological issues (psychological hygiene). The doctors don't care...but at least we have the power to take care of ourselves now. Luckily here in Austria organic food is quite affordable now.
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STOPOrganic is the way to go. More expensive but worth it. 😀 😃 😄 😁
Its pretty crazy how they label everything organic now a days, not saying that its a bad thing but not all organic is good
In the US there is a list called the 'dirty dozen'. These are the fruits and veggies that are highly sprayed with pesticides.
Interestingly, some foods I can only eat if organic. I will not buy the beautiful strawberries and raspberries unless they are organic.
Farm-fresh eggs just taste better, in my opinion.
Grass-fed meats without hormones digest differently through the body.
I think washing all fruits and veggies with a good baking soda & vinegar spritz and rinse is a great idea.
There are so many loopholes for calling something 'organic'.
I say trust how your body handles the food. If it reacts negatively, it's probably a harmful toxin that's invaded.
Thanks for the post, and all the great comments!
Peace.