Organic Farming Shows Swift Growth

March 31, 2000

Organic farming has become on of the fastest growing segments of agriculture, and producers, exporters and retailers are struggling to keep up with consumer demand for a wide range of organic products, USDA reports.

Eggs and dairy expanded even faster than other production areas, according to an upcoming study by the Economic Research Service. The study will update USDA estimates of land farmed with organic practices during 1992-94 with 1997 estimates and will provide state and crop level detail unavailable in the past.

The ERS report says organic produce, milk, eggs, pasta, frozen dinners and pharmaceuticals are among the items that consumers want in natural foods supermarkets and "are beginning to expect in mainstream supermarkets as well."

International estimates for combined retail sales of organic food and beverages in major wold markets total $11 billion in 1997 and $13-13.5 billion in 1998. Organic food sales in 1997 accounted for 1-2% of total food sales in most major countries, including the United States.

About 2% of top fruit and vegetable crop acreage (apples, carrots, lettuce and grapes) was managed organically in 1997. "Large farms with hundreds or thousands of acres produced organic processed tomatoes, wine grapes and other high-value crops on a commercial scale, while numerous farms with small acreages still specialized in mixed vegetable production for direct marketing to consumers and restaurants," ERS said.

Organic livestock production systems attempt to accommodate an animal’s natural nutritional and behavioral requirements, the report continues. Livestock standards in the organic production industry address the origin of each animal and incorporate requirements for living conditions, access to the outdoors, feed ration and health care practices.

For example, dairy cows must be organically managed for a year prior to producing organic milk, must receive only 100% organic feed and allowed supplements, must have access to pasture and cannot be treated with antibiotics.