Across the country, more and more people are looking for organic options at their local markets. Thanks to the remarkable growth in the number of domestic and international certified organic operations, Americans now have more choices than ever.
According to the USDA, there were 19,474 certified organic producers in the United States at the end of 2014. In just one year, the number of US certified organic operations increased by more than 5 percent. Since the count began in 2002, the number of domestic organic operations has increased by over 250 percent. The full list can be accessed here.
To become organically certified, a farm will need to be visited and inspected by a USDA accredited certifying agent. “Certifying agents ensure that operations are complying with the organic regulations,” said Sam Jones-Ellard with the Agricultural Marketing Service. “This process assures consumers that organic products have maintained their organic integrity from farm to market.” For more information on the requirements of becoming organically certified, click this link. Once certified, organic products have strict label requirements and more information about labeling can be found here.
According to the Organic Trade Association (OTA), consumers can’t get enough of organic food. Sales of organic food and non-food products in the United States broke through another record in 2014, totaling $39.1 billion, up 11.3 percent from the previous year, according to the latest survey on the organic industry from the OTA.
Organic fruits and vegetables continued to be the biggest-selling organic category in 2014 with $13 billion in sales, up 12 percent from the previous year, and making up more than 36 percent of all organic food sales. Of all the produce now sold in the United States, 12 percent of it is organic, a market share that has more than doubled in the past ten years when organic produce sales accounted for only 5 percent of the fruit and vegetable market.
Sources: USDA AMS, OTA
For more information:
Sam Jones-Ellard
USDA AMS
Tel: (+1) 202-660-2268