Readings on this page are organized by topic:
Organic Production and
Costs
U.S. Organic Farm Sector Continues to Expand--Organic
agriculture is expanding rapidly in the United States, as consumer
interest continues to gather momentum and new organic production
and marketing systems evolve. This article looks at changes in
organic crop acreage from 1997-2003. Amber Waves
(3/06).
Risk and Risk Management In Organic
Agriculture: View of Organic Farmers--Organic farmers from
different regions of the United States identified a wide range of
risks to their operations in a series of focus groups during
2001and 2002 facilitated by the University of Maryland in
cooperation with USDA's Economic Research Service. Focus group
participants saw contamination of organic production from
genetically-modified organisms as a major risk. Participants who
had used crop insurance, mostly grain and cotton producers,
expressed the need for insurance to reflect the higher prices
received for organic crops. Participants with small fruit and
vegetable farms were skeptical about the usefulness of crop
insurance for their type of operation. University of Maryland
Working Paper (6/04).
Organic Produce,
Price Premiums, and Eco-Labeling in U.S. Farmers' Markets--The
popularity of farmers' markets in the United States has grown
concurrently with organic production and consumer interest in
locally and organically produced foods. This research, based on
interviews with 210 market managers, describes the significance of
these markets as outlets for many organic farmers, and recent
shifts in relationships between organic growers, market managers,
and customers. Vegetable Situation and Outlook (4/04).
U.S. Organic Farming
in 2000-2001: Adoption of Certified Systems--U.S. farmland
managed under organic farming systems expanded rapidly throughout
the 1990s, and that pace has continued as farmers strive to meet
consumer demand in both local and national markets. An increasing
number of U.S. farmers are adopting these systems in order to lower
input costs, conserve nonrenewable resources, capture high-value
markets, and boost farm income. This report updates USDA estimates
of land farmed with organic practices during 1997 with estimates
for 2000 and 2001, and provides new estimates on the number of
certified organic operations in each State. AIB-780
(4/03).
Organic Agriculture: Gaining Ground--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. Amber Waves (2/03).
U.S. Organic Farming: A Decade of Expansion 
--American farmland under organic
management has grown steadily for the last decade, with acreage for
major crops more than doubling between 1992 and 1997, and again
between 1997 and 2001. Certified organic pasture (including
ranchland) also doubled between 1997 and 2001. USDA's national
organic standards, which took effect in October 2002, incorporate
an ecological approach to farming and are expected to generate
further interest in organic products. Agricultural Outlook
(11/02).
U.S. Organic Farming Emerges in the 1990s: Adoption of Certified
Systems--Farmers have been developing organic farming systems
in the U.S. for decades. State and private institutions also began
emerging during this period to set organic farming standards and
provide third-party verification of label claims, and legislation
requiring national standards was passed in the 1990s. This report
updates U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates of land farmed
with organic practices during 1992-94 with 1997 estimates, and
provides new State- and crop-level detail. AIB-770
(6/01).
Organic Wheat Production in the United States: Expanding Markets
and Supplies
--Describes the emerging markets and price premiums for
organically grown wheat crops, as well as the production and
distribution challenges posed by these crops. The article also
examines the competition for international organic wheat markets
and other U.S. organic export and policy issues. Wheat
Situation and Outlook Yearbook (3/01).
U.S. Organic Agriculture Gaining Ground
--Presents data on U.S. organic crop acreage and livestock
numbers in 1997, an update from earlier estimates for 1992-94.
During the 1990's, certified organic cropland more than doubled,
while an organic livestock sector began to emerge. Agricultural
Outlook (4/00).
Organic Fruit Growers Survey
--Shows the results of a USDA survey of certified organic fruit
growers in the United States in 1995, including the size of their
operation, use of various pest and nutrient management practices,
marketing channels, and information sources. Resources and
Environmental Indicators Update (6/97).
Organically Grown Vegetables: U.S. Acreage and Markets Expand
During the 1990's (text only; the special article is toward the
back of the report)--Reports on the increase in organic acreage in
top vegetable-producing States and the limited amount of publicly
available wholesale price information on organic produce.
Vegetable Situation and Outlook (5/97).
Organic Vegetable Growers Surveyed in 1994 --Shows the results of a USDA survey
of certified organic vegetable growers in the United States in
1994, including the size of their operation, use of various pest
and nutrient management practices, marketing channels, and
information sources. More detail is contained in a 1998American
Journal of Alternative Agriculture article (vol. 13, no. 2),
"Organic vegetable production in the U.S.: Certified growers and
their practices." Resources and Environmental Indicators
Update (5/96).
Organic Food
Distribution
Using Vertically
Coordinated Relationships to Overcome Tight Supply in the Organic
Market--A survey of certified organic handlers in the United
States reveals that handlers widely use contracts as a means to not
only procure needed ingredients but also to develop and maintain
strong working relationships with their suppliers. Vegetable
Situation and Outlook (10/08).
The U.S. Organic
Handling Sector in 2004: Baseline Findings of the Nationwide Survey
of Organic Manufacturers, Processors, and Distributors--This
report presents findings from an ERS survey of certified organic
intermediaries, and presents a baseline of their marketing and
procurement practices in 2004. A large share of firms handles both
organic and conventional products, most are small firms, and more
than three-quarters are independent. EIB-36 (5/08).
Procurement
and Contracting by Organic Handlers--Provides select results
from the 2004 Nationwide Survey of Organic Manufacturers,
Processors, and Distributors. The survey covered a variety of
topics related to the procurement and contracting of organic
products and ingredients. Data are available on 9 commodity groups,
such as fruit and nuts, and 45 commodities. The procurement data
include information from 1,038 facilities; the contracts data
include information from 686 facilities that use contracts. ERS
data product (11/07).
Organic Consumers and
Markets
Retail and
Consumer Aspects of the Organic Milk Market--Consumer interest
in organic milk has burgeoned, resulting in rapid growth in retail
sales of organic milk. Most organic milk is sold in supermarkets,
and organic price premiums are large and vary by region.
Outlook Report (5/07).
Organic
Demand: A Profile of Consumers in the Fresh Produce Market--The
study analyzes ACNielsen Homescan data from 2001 and 2004 to
determine the characteristics of organic consumers, what they buy,
how much they spend, and the price premiums they pay for organic
produce. Choices (4/07).
Organic Poultry and Eggs Capture High Price Premiums and Growing
Share of Specialty Markets--Organic poultry and egg markets in
the United States are expanding rapidly. This report examines
trends in markets, animal numbers, and prices. Price comparisons
between organic and conventional show significant organic price
premiums for both broilers and eggs. Outlook Report
(12/06).
Organic Price Premiums Remain High--Recent trends in price
premiums for broccoli and carrots suggest that even though
certified organic acreage is rising rapidly, demand appears to be
growing fast enough so that farmers and wholesalers are maintaining
a large organic premium for these products. Amber Waves
(9/05).
Price Premiums Hold on as U.S. Organic Produce Market
Expands--Price premiums for organic products have contributed
to growth in certified organic farmland and, ultimately, market
expansion. Fresh produce has long been an important component of
the organic food sector, and a significant contributor to the
organic industry's growth over the last decade. This article
explores price premiums and market margins for a limited set of
fresh produce items-carrots, broccoli, and mesclun mix.
Vegetable Situation and Outlook (5/05).
Organic Food Industry Taps Growing American Market --American consumer interest in
organically grown foods has opened new market opportunities,
leading to a transformation in the organic foods industry. Organic
food is currently sold in a wide variety of venues, including
farmers' markets, natural foods supermarkets, conventional
supermarkets, and club stores. New national organic standards will
facilitate the marketing of organic products to consumers.
Agricultural Outlook (10/02).
Recent Growth Patterns in the U.S. Organic Foods Market--As
consumer interest in organic foods continues to gather momentum in
the U.S., many firms are specializing in growing, processing, and
marketing an ever-widening array of organic products. This report
provides economic research on recent growth patterns in the U.S.
organic sector, by market category, and a description of the
marketing channels for major organic commodity groups. It
summarizes USDA research, regulatory, and other ongoing programs on
organic agriculture. AIB-777 (9/02).
Tracking Wholesale Prices for Organic Produce --Organic agriculture is one of the
fastest growing segments of the U.S. food sector. But collection of
data (e.g., on prices) for this segment has lagged the industry's
growth. Wholesale prices for organic produce are occasionally
provided in Market News Service reports published daily by USDA's
Agricultural Marketing Service covering terminal markets in 15 U.S.
cities. A more complete picture of industry price patterns will
emerge if and when data become available for other terminal
wholesale markets. Agricultural Outlook (10/01).
National Demand for Organic and
Conventional Baby Food--Analyzes sales of organic and
conventional baby food in mainstream supermarkets during the 1990s.
National-level scanner data are used to assess market shares and
price premiums, as well as to estimate price and expenditure
elasticities. University of Maryland Working Paper
(7/01).
Organic Marketing Features Fresh Foods and Direct Exchange --Examines the trends in organic food
sales through various marketing channels, including the
direct-to-consumer markets, which are used by a higher proportion
of organic farmers than other farmers. FoodReview
(1/01).
Demand for Organic and Conventional
Beverage Milk--Examines the sale of organic and conventional
milk in mainstream supermarkets. National-level scanner data for
1996-99 are used to assess market shares and price premiums, as
well as to estimate price and expenditure elasticities.
University of Maryland Working Paper (7/00).
Organic Foods: Niche Marketers Venture into the Mainstream --The organic industry has grown at a
remarkable rate during the past several years. Average annual
growth in organic food sales is expected to continue at 20-24
percent into the next decade. Rapid growth in demand presents the
organic industry with a major challenge--to ensure an adequate
supply while maintaining product integrity as commodities move
along the marketing chain. USDA's proposed national organic
standards, expected to be finalized this year, will provide a
national definition of organic production, which is among the
essential elements for assuring product integrity. Agricultural
Outlook (6/00).
Organic
Food Markets in Transition --For the past several years, the organic foods
industry has been growing at a remarkable rate of 20 to 24 percent
annually. Such growth has led to a transformation in the organic
foods industry. A major focus of this report is to determine how
new and established firms are faring in this entrepreneurial
climate, and whether they can expect to coexist and thrive in what
is a unique market. Wallace Center publication (4/00).
Demand for Frozen Vegetables: A Comparison of Organic and
Conventional Products (text only; the special article is toward
the back of the report)--Presents analysis on sales growth, market
share, and price premia of organic frozen broccoli, green beans,
green peas, sweet corn, and french fries as compared with their
conventional counterparts. Vegetables and Specialties Situation
and Outlook (11/98).
Demand for Organic and Conventional
Frozen Vegetables--Compares the market shares and prices of
organic and conventional frozen vegetables (broccoli, green beans,
green peas, and sweet corn) using national supermarket scanner data
for 1990-96. Price and expenditure elasticities are estimated using
the almost ideal demand system. University of Maryland Working
Paper (8/98).
Consumers Pay a Premium for Organic Baby Foods
--Presents results from an economic study on what product
characteristics consumers consider important when they purchase
baby food. Organic was a major characteristic consumers value in
baby food, as was the lack of added fillers such as modified
starches. FoodReview (5/97).
Organic Trade
Data Track the Expansion of International and U.S. Organic
Farming--The consumption of organic food and beverages is
concentrated in Europe and the United States, but the production of
certified organic products is scattered worldwide. Amber
Waves (9/07).
Organic Policy
Organic
Agriculture: Innovations in Organic Marketing, Technology, and
Research--Symposium Proceedings of a workshop held October 2005
at ERS, on the Plant Management Network website. The workshop
examined producer options and obstacles, market growth, educational
resources, benefits assessment, and research opportunities. PMN
Symposium Proceedings (9/06).
EU and U.S. Organic Markets Face Strong Demand Under Different
Policies--Many European Union (EU) countries have "green
payments" available for transitioning and continuing organic
farmers. By contrast, the U.S. Government has largely taken a
free-market approach to the organic sector. Despite the different
approaches, both regions have large retail markets for organic
foods. For the full report, see
Market-Led Growth vs. Government-Facilitated Growth: Development of
the U.S. and EU Organic Agricultural Sectors. Amber
Waves (2/06), WRS-0505 (8/05).
The 2002 Farm Bill:
Organic Agriculture Provisions
--Presents a summary of the provisions to assist organic crop and
livestock producers with production and marketing, which include
several first-time provisions for research and technical assistance
(6/02).
The Economics of
Food Labeling--Traces the economic theory behind food labeling
and presents three case studies, including organic agriculture, in
which the government has intervened in labeling decisions. AER-793
(1/01.)