Organic sector posted its largest-ever dollar gain in 2015
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USDA certified more than 21,900 organic operations to date.
"America's organic industry is booming, creating important opportunities for farmers and ranchers and adding to the vibrancy of rural America. Under the Obama Administration, we've made transformative investments to help the organic sector thrive by making certification more attainable, providing more support for organic operations, and expanding international markets.
"As consumer demand continues to grow, USDA is here to support producers and help them access the hunger for American-grown organic products."
To support producers and growth of the organic sector, USDA:
- Invested nearly $261 million over the past seven years in research to improve the productivity and success of organic agriculture, including seed-breeding.
- Certified more than 21,900 organic operations to date — nearly a 300 percent increase since 2002. Worldwide, the USDA organic seal has become a leading global standard, with more than 31,000 certified organic operations in more than 120 countries.
- Increased the number of value-added producer grants awarded to local food projects by nearly 500 percent since 2009.
- Established tools to help organic producers find technical and financial assistance to help them grow.
- Provided more than 6,800 farms with $115 million in assistance to help producers implement conservation practices on organic farms, and expanded field-level capacity to implement voluntary conservation practices on organic acres through a public-private partnership.
- Created new crop insurance options to meet the unique needs of organic operations. ■