Organic agriculture
is expanding rapidly in the United States, as consumer interest
continues to gather momentum and new organic production and marketing
systems evolve. In the wake of USDA's implementation of national
organic standards in October 2002, continued growth in the industry
is expected.
USDA's organic rules incorporate an ecological approach to farming
that has evolved over the last half-century. Farmers developed rigorous
standards and management-intensive production systems for organic
farming during this period. Before USDA implemented its national
organic standards, many States and most organic distributors required
third-party certification to ensure that organic farmers adhered
to organic production standards. USDA's new rules make certification
according to the national standards mandatory.
Despite the time, costs, and effort required to meet these stringent
requirements, farmers and ranchers added a
million acres of certified organic land for major crops and
pasture between 1997 and 2001, doubling organic pasture and more
than doubling organic cropland for major crops. Total certified
organic cropland and pasture now encompasses 2.3 million acres in
48 States (see Certified
organic acreage and operators, 2001) Organic livestock, which
require access to organic pasture, have had a boost in production
since USDA lifted restrictions on organic meat labeling in the late
1990s.
Similarly, consumer
demand for organic goods rose throughout the 1990s—20 percent
or more annually—and that pace has continued. Organic products
are now available in nearly 20,000 natural food stores and 73 percent
of conventional grocery stores, and account for approximately 1-2
percent of total food sales in the U.S. In 2000, for the first time,
more organic food was purchased in conventional supermarkets than
in any other venue. Farmers' markets and other direct-market venues,
which are especially popular among organic producers, have also
grown in number over the last decade. Organic farmers are also finding
ways to capture a larger segment of the consumer food dollar through
onfarm processing, producer marketing cooperatives, and new forms
of direct marketing, including agricultural subscription services.
The growth of the organic industry has caught the attention of
Federal policymakers. The
Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, for example,
contains several first-time research and technical assistance provisions
to assist organic crop and livestock producers with production and
marketing. The "USDA Organic" label, issued in October
2002, may enhance consumer awareness of organically grown products
and facilitate further growth in the organic farm sector.
