Natural & Organic Beef; Similar, But Not The Same

While natural and organic beef products are not likely to ever dominate the US market, demand for organic products has been growing at the rate of about 20% annually since the early 1990’s. The market is estimated to be at $25 billion plus in annual sales, with large specialists such as Whole Foods and Wal-Mart supercenters competing for customers. Certified Angus Beef is now offering natural products. Given the growth in this area, there may be opportunities for producers to participate and benefit. The first step in exploring that option is to understand the differences between natural, organic and other marketing claims of these specialized products.