4 Reasons Retailers Should Carry Organic Mushrooms

How important is it for your grocery store to expand its organic selection? Very— and we’ve got the data to prove it!

Simply put, more customers are interested in organic foods than ever before. In fact, between 2019 and 2016— just three years— sales of organic products increased by 31% ($2.37 billion), according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service’s 2019 Organic Survey. 

When you really think about it, that’s astonishing! Thirty-one percent. And the growth is only projected to skyrocket, with the global Organic Food And Beverages Market predicting a compound annual growth rate of 16% from 2019 to 2026.

Mushrooms in particular are an often overlooked produce item to stock beyond conventional varieties— and in this post, we’re here to tell you why they’re not a food to skip when expanding your organic reach. Here are four reasons retailers should carry organic mushrooms:

1. Organic mushroom sales are growing (and will only continue to grow).

Sales for organic mushrooms were up 5.8% from 2018, with exclusive purchase of organics accounting for nearly 11% of retail mushrooms sales overall, according to Packer’s 2021 Organic Fresh Trends Report. That same report shows that shoppers purchased organic mushrooms 27% of the time “some of the time.”

According to Mushroom Council IRI data, organic mushrooms across the US saw a 17% growth in sales volume and a whopping 21% increase in dollar sales over a 52-week period ending November 1, 2020. This was even during the national coronavirus pandemic, which was sure to affect sales. Nonetheless, organic produce demand has been on the rise for a handful of years and is only predicted to increase.

2. Organic mushrooms open the door to new sales opportunities.

With this growing demand for organic products comes a whole new world of sales opportunities for grocers. In 2020, over 6% of the total produce share in the US is certified organic and retailers simply can’t ignore the hefty impact organic inventory has on their customer pool and bottom line.

Organic mushrooms in particular aren’t always a common selection, and stocking them could help your store stand out from the pack. Customers come for your organic selection but leave with their carts full of other products as well.

Curious to see how we grow organic mushrooms at our Monterey farms and ensure approval by independent organic certifiers? Check out the step-by-step process by reading How We Grow Our Mushrooms.

3. The benefits of organic mushrooms matter to your customers.

Customers make a conscious choice to enjoy the natural benefits of the produce they put in their shopping cart by choosing USDA-certified organic. 

Customers who care deeply about organic selection are extremely particular when it comes to produce. According to figures by Packer, 60% of shoppers purchase organic produce for food safety reasons, while their health and environmental concerns don’t trail too far behind!

Mushrooms in particular are a remarkable food, praised for their incredible nutritional benefits such as their ability to boost the immune system, provide antioxidant effects and even fight different forms of cancer. They are also very sustainable to grow. Organic mushrooms scratch the itch of all three purchasing motivations.

4. Dynamic mushroom displays excite shoppers.

Data shows that when organic mushrooms are displayed with other conventional mushrooms on the same shelf set (integrated)— versus placed in a standalone organic section (segregated)— unit sales and profits increase! That’s why we recommend that conventional and organic mushrooms should be displayed together, in a comprehensive, integrated merchandising shelf set.

By integrating organic mushrooms into the same set as your conventional mushrooms, you give customers a fun choice between the two without making them walk to your dedicated organic section. Plus, it diversifies your mushroom section, making it seem more full with a larger selection, which shoppers love. 

Don’t Forget Fortified Products

It’s evident that organic produce is hot, but it’s not the only purchasing trend retailers like you are seeing.

Customers are also demanding more nutritious products than ever before, which is why many manufacturers are fortifying foods with extra vitamins and nutrients.

In addition to organic mushrooms, consider stocking High Vitamin D mushrooms to appeal to your health-conscious consumers. Download our Everything You Need to Know About High Vitamin D Mushrooms ebook to learn more. 

Learn More About How to Get Our High Vitamin D Mushrooms On Your Shelves: