Increased availability, more affordable options and a larger number of health-minded consumers are driving growth in the organic foods sector, according to a new study.

The percentage of eating occasions where foods with organic labels were consumed increased from 7.5 percent to 9.7 percent in the past three years, according to Chicago-based research firm The NPD Group.

Over a seven-day period, about 10 percent of the population consume all organic foods, 19 percent consume all-natural and organic foods and 20 percent all-natural only foods, according to NPD. About 51 percent of the population are non-users of organic and all-natural foods.

Women, people aged 35-44 and 55 -64, West Coast dwellers and those with a household income of at least $75,000 are among those most likely to eat organic foods.