Organic Tea Trends & Information

Sales of certified organic teas are rising steadily in the USA and elsewhere. When deciding if organic products are right for you, the first thing to know is that tea which is NOT certified organic is one of the most healthful beverages known to man. The main reason to support organic tea production is to benefit the soil and workers in the tea gardens, not to procure teas which are noticeably freer from herbicides or pesticides, which typically can be detected only at the level of parts per billion in the liquor of non-organic teas. "Organic" is variously defined but "certified" guarantees the estate so-called is regularly inspected and found to uphold the environmental standards established by the certifying organization.

• Growing in popularity, organic foods are being prepared by everyone from gourmet chefs to soccer moms. Here are some facts that explore the rise in the use of, and the appreciation for, organic foods.
  Organic sales in the United States reached $5.4 billion in 1998. Datamonitor projects sales will continue to grow at approximately 20 percent per year, reaching $9.35 billion in 2001 and slightly more than $11 billion in 2002.
  
  
• Organic Trade Association and Datamonitor (Datamonitor's 1999 U.S. Organics report): Industry observers expect demand for organic products and commodities around the world to grow for several reasons. First, core support for organics is strongest among affluent, educated health-conscious consumers. The motivations that first drew them to organics, such as concern for the environment and their personal health, are likely to endure. Second, today's time-pressed organic product consumers want convenience and variety. Mainstream retailers who want to meet consumers' preference for one-stop shopping will require a steady and reliable supply of organic products.
  
  
• U.S. Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service, AgExporter June 2000: Of 1,000 shoppers polled, 67 percent indicated that their primary store provides natural or organic foods. Of the 669 persons who said their supermarket carries natural or organic foods, 54 percent buy organic or natural foods at least once a month, 23 percent buy them at least once a week and 31 percent buy them at least three times a month.
  
  
• Food Marketing Institute, Trends in the U.S.: Consumer Attitudes and the Supermarket, 2000: Restaurant & Institution's "A Year to Flavor," lists organic produce as one of the year's biggest trends, stating: "Organic foods will play a burgeoning role in foodservice."
  
  
• In Food & Wine magazine's 1997 Chef's Survey, administered by Louis Harris & Associates, 76 percent of those chefs surveyed responded "Yes" to the question, "Do you actively seek out organically grown ingredients?"
  
  
• Renowned chefs who advocate using organic ingredients include: Alice Waters, Nora Pouillon, Rick Bayless, Jesse Cool, Stan Frankenthaler, Peter Hoffman, John Ash and Charlie Trotter.
  
  
• Based on statistics from Natural Foods Merchandiser, the organic industry has posted double-digit sales growth of 20 percent or greater for the ninth consecutive year.

 

The Organic Trade Association is the leading business association representing the organic industry in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Its more than 1,000 members include growers, processors, shippers, retailers, certification organizations and others involved in the business of producing and selling certified organic products.

Organic Trade Association Or www.ota.com
P.O. Box 547, Greenfield, MA 01302
Phone: 413-774-7511, Fax: 413-774-6432
Email: info@ota.com