Apples account for nearly 9% of organic produce sales

Editor's note: The following report is from The Packer’s Organic Fresh Trends 2024, which provides insight based on survey responses from consumers. Since 1983, The Packer has sponsored major consumer studies to track trends in the purchases and consumption of fresh produce, documenting the fluctuation in purchases of specific fruits and vegetables as well as changing attitudes toward industry issues.

Apples are an organic powerhouse in the fresh produce department, accounting for nearly 9% of total organic produce sales.

In 2022, retail sales of organic apples gained 2.6%, though the volume of organic apples sold dropped 8.9%. The average price per pound of $2.55 was up 12.5% compared with 2021, according to Circana data.

The Packer’s Organic Fresh Trends 2024 research shows that 17% of consumers said they buy organic apples only; another 26% said they buy a combination of organic and conventional fruit.

Organic Fresh Trends survey data reveals that younger consumers, higher-income households, and ethnic minorities were more frequent buyers of organic apples, while older, lower-income and white/Caucasian households more often reported buying conventional apples exclusively.

Responses from The Packer’s Fresh Trends survey also show women were more frequent purchasers of organic apples only (20% versus 14% for men).

Younger age groups (18-29, 30-39) had higher percentages buying organic apples only compared with older groups. By ethnicity, Organic Fresh Trends 2024 showed Asian households had the highest percentage buying organic apples (34.8%).

More info from Organic Fresh Trends 2024

Organic Retail Sales – Apples 2022

• Pounds sold: 265,157,450
• Average retail price per pound: $2.55
• Retail sales: $675,018,170
• Percent of total organic produce sales: 8.7%
• Organic percent of retail apple sales: 15.4%
• Change in sales from last year: 2.6%

Source: Circana

Organic purchasing patterns of apples

• Organic only: 17%
• Organic at least some of the time: 43%*

*Includes consumers who purchase only organic apples and those who purchase a combination of both organic and conventional fruit.

Reported ORGANIC ONLY purchase by age*

• 18-29: 32%
• 30-39: 19%
• 40-49: 17%
• 50-59: 7%
• 60+: 7%

*Considering primary household buyers

Reported ORGANIC ONLY purchase by household income*

• $100k+:  16%
• $50k<$100k: 16%
• $25k<$50k: 15%
• Less than $25k: 23%

*Figures based on annual household income