Marketing U S Organic Foods

Organic foods occupy prominent shelf space in the produce and dairy aisles of most U.S. food retailers. Retail sales of organic foods increased to $21.1 billion in 2008 from $3.6 billion in 1997. This increase has been spearheaded by: an expanding number of retailers are selling a wider variety of foods, the development of private-label product lines by many supermarkets, and the widespread intro. of new products. Organic handlers, who purchase products from farmers and often supply them to retailers, sell more organic products to conventional retailers and club stores than ever before. But, organic farms have struggled at times to produce sufficient supply to keep up with the growth in demand, leading to periodic shortages of organic products. Illus.

Organic foods now occupy prominent shelf space in the produce and dairy aisles of most mainstream U.S. food retailers. The marketing boom has pushed retail sales of organic foods up to $21.1 billion in 2008 from $3.6 billion in 1997. U.S. organic-industry growth is evident in an expanding number of retailers selling a wider variety of foods, the development of private-label product lines by many supermarkets, and the widespread introduction of new products. A broader range of consumers has been buying more varieties of organic food. Organic handlers, who purchase products from farmers and often supply them to retailers, sell more organic products to conventional retailers and club stores than ever before. Only one segment has not kept pace--organic farms have struggled at times to produce sufficient supply to keep up with the rapid growth in demand, leading to periodic shortages of organic products.

The marketing of organic products is viewed as a significant link between the production side of the business and the consumers, thereby facilitating the distribution of these relatively new products. It has become obvious that companies can organize organic production and influence consumers'' purchasing behaviour through the employment of appropriate marketing strategies. This book explores the marketing trends for organic food products through the analysis of those elements that contribute to the expansion of the organic product market. It will aid marketers in facing the challenges that the organic food sector will encounter in the future. Contents: The Market for Organic Products: Predicting Developments in Organic EU Markets OCo Are the Competitive Patterns in the Danish Case Useful? (J Vestergaard & M S Linneberg); Trends in the Marketing of Organic Grains and Oilseeds in the US (C L Revoredo); Supply Chain of Organic Food and Quality Products: Marketing Orientation and Its Consequence for the Food Chain (J Hanf & R Khl); Marketing and Distribution of Quality Products: A Dutch Example (G M L Tacken & J J de Vlieger); Market Success of Premium Product Innovation: Empirical Evidence from the German Food Sector (K T McNamara et al.); Marketing Trends in the UK Organic Sector: Perspectives on Marketing Products from the Second Year of Conversion (G C Holt et al.); Organic Food Marketing Trends: Consumer Perception and Marketing of Origin and Organic Labelled Food Products in Europe (G Giraud); Organic Food Consumers OCo The Irish Case (S O''Reilly et al.); Do Consumers Care About Where They Buy Organic Products? A Means-End Study with Evidence from Italian Data (S Naspetti & R Zanoli); Testing and Validating the LOV Scale of Values in an Organic-Food-Purchase-Context (G M Chryssochoidis); and other papers. Readership: Business management researchers, entrepreneurs and marketers."

This book discusses a variety of topics related to organic food production, consumption, and promotion. Written by experts in each of these fields, this book will interest consumers, academicians, marketing practitioners, as well as policy makers. Myths about organic foods are dispelled, and the code is cracked regarding the plethora of existing labels that have led to so much market confusion in recent years. New research findings regarding the environmental benefits (as related to sustainability) of organic food production, as well as the many nutritional and other personal health benefits of organic food consumption are discussed. The issues that lead to the price premium of organic foods, relative to conventional foods, are presented, and suggestions are provided regarding the types of foods that are worth paying the organic price premium. Marketers and advertisers of organic foods will find the overview of successful advertising tactics comprehensive and informative. Similarly, pet owners considering the switch to organic pet food will enjoy reading about this emerging market and will receive vital information to help them in their decision making.

A bold, science-based corrective to the groundswell of misinformation about food and how it's produced, examining in detail local and organic food, food companies, nutrition labeling, ethical treatment of animals, environmental impact, and every other aspect from farm to table. Consumers want to know more about their food—including the farm from which it came, the chemicals used to grow it, its nutritional value, how the animals were treated, and the costs to the environment. They are being told that buying organic foods, unprocessed and sourced from small local farms, is the most healthful and sustainable option. But what if we’re wrong? In Resetting the Table, Robert Paarlberg reviews the evidence and finds abundant reason to disagree. He delineates the ways in which global food markets have in fact improved our diet, and how "industrial" farming has recently turned green, thanks to GPS-guided precision methods that cut energy use and chemical pollution. He makes clear that America's serious obesity crisis does not come from farms, or from food deserts, but instead from "food swamps" created by food companies, retailers, and restaurant chains. And he explains how, though animal welfare is lagging behind, progress can be made through continued advocacy, more progressive regulations, and perhaps plant-based imitation meat. He finds solutions that can make sense for farmers and consumers alike and provides a road map through the rapidly changing worlds of food and farming, laying out a practical path to bring the two together.