Organic food sales reached $47.9 billion in 2018, an increase of 5.9 percent, according to the Organic Trade Association. Organic food sales account for nearly 6 percent of the food sold in the U.S., and sales of organic fruits and vegetables rose 5.6 percent in 2018 to $17.4 billion. By comparison, the overall fruits and vegetables category grew by just 1.7 percent in 2018.
While growth in the U.S. dairy sector slowed for the second straight year, it was still the second-largest organic category, with dairy and egg sales at $6.5 billion, up 0.8 percent from 2017. Products high in healthy fats and protein became more popular than skim milk and low-fat products, as the organic dairy sector launched milk beverages with increased protein, more full-fat dairy products, new flavors, and grass-fed products.
Overall organic sales broke through the $50 billion mark for the first time, with sales hitting a record $52.5 billion, up 6.3 percent from the previous year.