Organic Sales, Farm Growth Soar in 2014
This article is courtesy the Organic Farming Research Foundation. In light of the farmers Market season which is getting ready to start up in our area next month. Here is some great news from the Organic Framing/gardening sector of our farming community. I have a very funny feeling in my gut about this news…Monsanto does not like this news????
What do you think????
April 15, 2015 – The U.S. organic industry enjoyed robust growth in 2014, with the number of certified organic farms increasing by more than 5 percent over 2013, and domestic sales of all organic products soaring 11 percent to more than $39 billion.
Organic food sales accounted for $35.9 billion of that total, with organic fruits and vegetables now accounting for 12 percent of all produce sold in the U.S. And while organic exports are growing, they are dwarfed by organic imports, reflecting U.S. farmers’ inability to keep pace with demand.
The statistics were released today to coincide with this week’s Organic Policy Conference and Hill Days in Washington DC, an annual gathering of organic stakeholders sponsored by the Organic Trade Association. Speaking to a sold-out crowd at Washington’s Newseum, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the number of certified organic farms in the U.S. increased to 19,474 last year, out of a global total of 27,814. Read the USDA press release here.
“As demand for organic products continues to soar, more and more producers are entering the organic market,” Vilsack said. “The more diverse type of operations and the more growing market sectors we have in American agriculture, the better off our country’s rural economy will be.”
U.S. organic sales statistics for 2014 were released by the OTA, a sampling of data from the organization’s comprehensive annual survey of the organic industry. Among the tidbits in the OTA release: non-food organic sales rose nearly 14 percent last year, and organic dairy sales jumped nearly 11 percent, despite persistent shortages in organic feed.
A majority of American households now make organic at least part of their retail purchases, according to the OTA, with nearly 80 percent of households in southern states and nearly 90 percent on the West Coast and in New England buying organic groceries and other products last year. Read the OTA release here.
The OTA also released highlights from a benchmark study setting the value of U.S. organic exports at $550 million in 2014, compared to nearly $1.3 billion in organic imports. While much of the import total encompasses items not commonly grown in the U.S., such as coffee and bananas, the second-largest component of organic imports is soybeans, though the U.S. is the world’s largest producer of soybeans. Read the OTA release here.
OFRF Executive Director Brise Tencer attended the Vilsack event, and applauded the good news, but pointed out that U.S. organic farmers are seeing far less growth than the organic industry overall. The U.S. still imports a significant portion of its organic food supply, a clear sign that U.S. farmers are not fully benefiting from industry trends.
Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana also addressed the policy conference, and urged meaningful increases in organic farming research to help expand the use of organic practices.
“Our core message to lawmakers and policymakers this week is that we need to rally behind our organic farmers,” Tencer said. “Consumers around the world are demanding organic, and our farmers should be at the forefront of this global market.”
To view a list of certified organic operations in the U.S., go to http://apps.ams.usda.gov/nop/
Image courtesy GrowGainesville.wordpress.com
Maria Gaura – OFRF
In related USDA Organic Farming News…..
WASHINGTON, April 15, 2015 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today that the organic industry continues to show remarkable growth domestically and globally, with 19,474 certified organic operations in the United States and a total of 27,814 certified organic operations around the world.
According to data released by the Agricultural Marketing Service’s (AMS) National Organic Program (NOP), the number of domestic certified organic operations increased by more than 5 percent over the last year. Since the count began in 2002, the number of domestic organic operations has increased by over 250 percent. The certified operations list is available at apps.ams.usda.gov/nop.
“As demand for organic products continues to soar, more and more producers are entering the organic market,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “USDA tools and resources have created opportunities for organic farmers and more options for organic consumers. Growing demand for organic goods can be especially helpful to smaller family operations. The more diverse type of operations and the more growing market sectors we have in American agriculture, the better off our country’s rural economy will be.”
USDA is committed to connecting organic farmers and businesses with resources to ensure the continued growth of the organic industry. Along with programs to support conservation, provide access to loans and grants, fund organic research and education, and integrated pest management, USDA administers organic certification cost share programs to offset the costs of organic certification for U.S. producers and handlers nationwide.
Now, USDA is using funding from the 2014 Farm Bill to develop the Organic Integrity Database, a modernized certified organic operations database that will provide accurate information about all certified operations that is updated on a regular basis. The modernized system will allow anyone to confirm organic certification status using the online tool, support market research and supply chain connections, allow international verification of operator status to streamline import and export certificates, and establish technology connections with certifiers to provide more accurate and timely data. The initial launch is planned for September 2015.
Additional information about USDA resources and support for the organic sector is available on the USDA Organics Resource page at www.usda.gov/organic.
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Don’t forget our Where’s Wilson Contest for your free Bakers Dozen of our bare root Quinalt Eversweet Strawberry Plants
Until Next Time
Happy Gardening!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!