The New Horizon for Organics: A Market Outlook of the Effects of Wal-Mart on the International Organic Market Georgia Clark Parr Rosson Flynn Adcock Dwi Susanto Texas A&M University Texas Cooperative Extension Center for North American Studies
Wal-Mart Large, global retailer Market access as well as market control 45% of US consumers shop at Wal-Mart Conventional supermarkets account for half of all organic sales Wal-Mart aids companies in determining what will be in demand Aims for 10% mark-up on organics Creates business expansion and encourages mergers ‘Bidding war’ has begun amongst organic suppliers to meet Wal-Mart’s demand
Organic Supply and Demand USDA certification program increased awareness, demand Wal-Mart creates own market niche for organics and brings more awareness US supply can not meet demand – 10% of consumption comes from imports Long wait to gain certification Large farms not yet established to cater to large retailers en masse
Short-run: High demand and low supply Long-run: Lower prices due to supply and demand reaching equilibrium Milk, butter, fruit, vegetables, and durable goods are all secure prospects for Wal-Mart Beef and fragile goods are not a viable option Organic canned goods, textiles will certainly be imported Price Premium Milk, Butter50-100% Fruit0-50% Vegetables50-150% Beef, Chicken % Corn, Soybeans % Average Price Premium for Organic Foods in the United States
Future of Organics Loosening Regulations Easier market access Large-scale production Incorporation of organic practices into farming, not total immersion New technology, innovations, and products