The U.S. organic market is experiencing strong expansion, with organic food and farming continuing to gain in popularity, according to the latest Organic Trade Association survey.

Total Organic Milk Products sales for June 2013, 179 million pounds, were up 5.8% from June last year. Organic Whole Milk sales for June 2013, 47 million pounds, were up 8.2% compared with June last year and up 8.9% year-to-date compared with last year. 

More consumers are opting for organic products when filling their shopping baskets. Eighty-one percent of parents in the United States purchase organic at least occasionally, according to the 2013 U.S. Families’ Organic Attitudes and Beliefs Study by the Organic Trade Association (OTA) and Kiwi magazine.

The Kroger Co. announced nationwide availability of its new Simple Truth and Simple Truth Organic brands. Dairy categories include milk and yogurt; other categories are salads, dried fruit, sodas, chips and quinoa.  Simple Truth and Simple Truth Organic products are free from 101 artificial preservatives and ingredients that some customers have said they do not want in their foods. Simple Truth Organic products are certified organic by the USDA.

A trip through a grocer’s dairy case finds Greek yogurt introductions and product extensions. The food is dipped, crunched and frozen. In other cultured dairy product categories, processors either simplify the foods or make them more decadent. No matter the direction, the category is booming.