Healthful eating isn’t a fad. It has become a way of life for an increasing number of Americans. Not only is there now more blending of the consumer base and products, but the growth of organic and “natural” foods is mimicking that of conventional products. Food manufacturers have jumped onto the healthful products train with a host of whole-grain bakery and snack product lines, organic offerings and products with “natural” ingredient profiles.
The numbers say it all. U.S. sales of organic food and beverages have grown from $1 billion in 1990 to $26.7 billion in 2010, according to the Organic Trade Association’s 2011 Organic Industry Survey. Sales in 2010 represented 7.7% growth over 2009 sales.