Organic Market Slows

As the economy continues to waver and consumers feel the pinch in their pocketbooks, the organics industry is finding it harder to stay on its feet after a decade of rapid growth. According to the Nielsen Company, a market research firm, the industry has grown at a rate of 20 percent a year, but slowed as the economy took a downward turn. After a four-week period ending October 4, the volume of organic sales rose only 4 percent overall compared to double-digit figures in previous years.