USDA organic survey shows big growth
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s just-released 2019 Organic Survey shows total sales of $9.93 billion in organic products, 31% higher than 2016.
There are 16,585 organic farms in the U.S., a 17% increase from 2016. Organic acreage grew 5.5 million acres, an increase of 9% compared with 2016.
The survey showed the top sectors and commodities in 2019, with sales compared with 2016, were:
- Livestock and poultry products: $2.48 billion, up 12%;
- Milk: $1.59 billion, up 14%;
- Vegetables: $2.08 billion, up 27%;
- Lettuce: $400 million, up 44%;
- Fruits, tree nuts, and berries: $2.02 billion, up 44%;
- Apples: $475 million, up 45%;
- Livestock and Poultry: $1.66 billion, up 44%;
- Broiler chickens: $1.12 billion, up 49%;
- Field Crops: $1.18 billion, up 55%; and
- Corn for grain: $278 million, up 70%.
According to the survey, 29% of producers in all segments plan to increase organic production.
Heavy hitters
California and the Northwest are the biggest factors in organic fruit and vegetable acreage, the USDA said.
The survey reported 27,311 acres of organic apples in the U.S. in 2019, of which Washington accounted for 85%.
The USDA said U.S. organic citrus acreage totaled 13,344 acres in 2019, of which California accounted for 93%, with Florida and Texas with 1% each.
California is by far the leading producer of organic vegetables, accounting for 60% of the U.S. total of 224,112 acres. Washington accounted for 7%, with Arizona and Oregon at 4% each.
The USDA said the organic commodities with the greatest gains in value of sales compared with 2016 were spinach (52%), grapes (52%), cultivated blueberries (104%) and raspberries (197%).
The USDA said fruit and vegetable farm sales in 2019, compared with 2016, were:
- Berries $676 million, up 66%;
- Apples $475 million, up 45%;
- Lettuce: $400 million, up 44%;
- Grapes $332 million, up 52%;
- Spinach $179 million, up 52%;
- Tomatoes $132 million, down 25%;
- Potatoes $155 million, up 3%;
- Carrots $132 million, up 50%
- Citrus $116 million, down 6%;
- Onions: $113 million, 233%;
- Broccoli $109 million, up 54%; and
- Sweet potatoes: $77 million, down 24%.
The USDA survey said marketing practices in the organic farming sector showed:
- $2.04 billion in organic products were sold directly to retail markets, institutions, and local/regional food hubs;
- $300 million in organic products were sold directly to consumers at farmers markets, on-farm stores and stands, roadside stands or stores, u-pick, community supported agriculture farms, and online markets; and
- Value-added products such as jam, wine, cheese, and meat, accounted for $727 million.
In a statement, the Organic Trade Association thanked the USDA for its work in compiling the most up-to-date statistics on organic agriculture.
“The numbers show that organic acreage is still less than 1 pct of our total farmland,” the group said. “This points to a real need for more technical, risk management and financial support for farmers wanting to transition to organic.”
