Value-oriented consumers are buying organics on sale with grocery coupons and turning to store-brand/private-label organics, reveals a recent poll. Consumers are still committed to healthy, natural and organic foods, but are changing their buying habits to maintain these priorities during the economic recession. That’s according to a recent MamboTrackâ„¢ quick poll by Mambo Sprouts Marketing, the leader in natural and organic product marketing and promotions. The company surveyed the buying habits of natural and organic product consumers to identify recent changes in organic shopping and eating patterns.

Even with the tight economy, natural and organic consumers remain committed to eating healthy with nine in 10 (87 percent) reporting that they were not willing to give this up. A majority (about 55 percent each) would not forgo healthy and eco activities such as natural and organic products, vitamins and supplements, and “green” environmentally friendly products.

Those adjusting their organic buying and eating habits (45 percent of respondents) are frugal shoppers seeking value and ways to purchase organics more economically, such as being more selective when buying organics (67 percent), buying organics on sale (65 percent), using more coupons (50 percent), and buying more store-brand/private-label organics (48 percent).

Respondents see this change in the way they purchase organics as long-term. Most will (52 percent) or may (32 percent) continue these new buying habits when the economy improves. The outlook for organic products looks strong, with more than eight in 10 respondents planning to buy the same amount of organics (46 percent) or more (36 percent) when economy improves (one in six were unsure; only 2 percent will buy less).

Store-brand/private-label organics remain part of the cost-saving strategy, with nine in 10 (88 percent) buying on a regular (38 percent) or occasional (50 percent) basis. One in four (26 percent) are buying more of these products since the recession started. Grocery staples such as cereal, grains and pasta (80 percent), dairy (72 percent), condiments (61 percent) and household cleaning products (61 percent) displayed the highest store-brand/private-label category purchasing.

“For branded organic products, the challenge is to regain market share through brand-building initiatives such as layered promotions, education regarding brand values and coupons so that they are well-positioned post-recession,” said Matthew Saline, CEO for Mambo Sprouts Marketing.

Visit www.mambosprouts.com for green and organic product marketing and promotions.