NOVEMBER 21, 2005 -- AUSTIN, Texas -- The number of Americans who've tried organic foods has jumped to 65 percent in 2005, compared to 54 percent in 2003 and 2004, and a quarter of 1,000 people responding to a survey said they're consuming organics more than they did a year ago, said Whole Foods Market here.
According to an annual survey released on Friday by Whole Foods here, 10 percent of respondents said they consume organic foods several times per week, up from just seven percent last year.
The 2005 Whole Foods Market Organic Trend Tracker found that Americans are buying organic foods and beverages for a variety of reasons. The top three are: avoidance of pesticides (70.3 percent), freshness (68.3 percent), and health and nutrition (67.1 percent). More than half (55 percent) buy organic to avoid genetically modified foods. Also, more than half of all respondents agreed that organic foods and beverages are "better for my health" (52.8 percent) and better for the environment (52.4 percent).
"Organic foods continue to move into the mainstream, and more Americans are choosing organic foods as part of a lifestyle aimed at wellness," said Margaret Wittenberg, v.p. of communications and quality standards at Whole Foods and a former member of the USDA's National Organic Standards Board. "It's long been acknowledged that organic food is a better choice for the environment, and we applaud organizations like The Organic Center who are working to more clearly define how organics are better and more nutritious for our bodies through long-term and meaningful scientific studies."
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