ORGANIC FOOD WINS AT THE SUPERMARKET!

Annual Food Shopping Trends Tracker Survey shows purchases of natural, organic remain steady

AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Rising food costs haven’t curbed Americans’ appetite for natural and organic foods, according to results of the latest Annual Food Shopping Trends Tracker Survey. The poll, conducted online in August 2011 by Harris Interactive® on behalf of Whole Foods Market Inc., found that of 2,112 adults surveyed, nearly three out of four (74 percent) wouldn’t compromise on the quality of the food they buy.

Seventy-two percent of Americans surveyed said they would continue to buy the same amount of natural and/or organic foods as they always have, and 24 percent of respondents said natural and/or organic foods would make up more than a quarter of their total household food purchases this year. Notably, 82 percent of survey respondents said current food prices have affected their grocery shopping, and more than 75 percent said they have changed their cooking and eating habits due to the economy, with 57 percent reporting that they eat dinner at home and eat out less often.

Additionally, 70 percent of shoppers said they would like to find ways to be able to buy natural and organic foods within their budget, and 71 percent said they would buy natural and/or organic foods over conventional foods if prices are comparable. The survey also found that 32 percent of shoppers rely on inexpensive pantry items like beans and whole grains when building meals.