MONTEREY, CA - As organic fresh produce continues to pique consumer interest, the sector has seen slight year-over-year sales and volume growth. According to Organic Produce Network (OPN) and Category Partners' recently released Q3 2023 Organic Produce Performance Report, this is the second quarter in a row that organic fresh produce has experienced a boost.

"The growth in organic produce volume slightly outpacing conventional produce reflects the continued consumer interest in healthier and sustainable food choices, reaffirming the vitality of the organic industry in today's market," said Tom Barnes, Chief Executive Officer of Category Partners. "It's also heartening to see organics making a comeback after grappling with inflationary pressures in recent years."

Overall, organic fresh produce dollar sales and volume increased by 2 percent and 1.9 percent, respectively, for Q3 2023 compared to last year, with sales for the quarter surpassing $2.44 billion and volume movement at 733 million pounds. As explained in a release, conventional produce dollar sales and volume showed similar year-over-year gains, with sales up 2.4 percent and a volume increase of 1.8 percent.

Despite inflationary pressure, price increases were less in each segment than the past two years. Overall, conventional produce average price per pound grew by 0.6 percent compared to the third quarter of 2022, while organic pricing per pound rose by a mere 0.1 percent.

Fifteen of the top 20 organic fresh produce categories recorded dollar sales increases compared to last year. The organic berry category led overall dollar sales with $461 million for the quarter, representing a year-over-year increase of 6.9 percent. Organic broccoli saw the largest sales jump, up 14 percent. Volume gains for the quarter were seen in 12 of the top 20 categories, including double-digit growth for broccoli and watermelon.

To view the entire report, click here.

Find out what Q4 holds for the organic fresh produce sector by reading AndNowUKnow.

Organic Produce Network