Organic farms and operations continue to grow at double-digit rates. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported recently that there are now 21,781 certified organic operations in the United States and 31,160 around the world.
The data, collected by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, indicate that the number of certified domestic operations increased by almost 12 percent between 2014 and 2015, representing the highest growth rate since 2008 and an increase of nearly 300 percent since the count began in 2002. The total retail market for organic products is now valued at more than $39 billion in the United States and over $75 billion worldwide.
Also new is the recently-launched Organic Integrity Database, a system that tracks certified organic operations. In the past, USDA published an annual list, but the new database allows organic certifiers to add new operations and report changes to existing operations throughout the year. The new system will provide data for market research, enable stakeholders to identify market opportunities and make supply chain connections, and support international verification of operators to facilitate trade.
The database lists 816 certified organic operations in Minnesota; 1,620 in Wisconsin; and 873 in Iowa.
