• As our readership is well aware, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) administers the National Organic Program (NOP), which includes standards for “organic” food in the United States. The NOP accredits and oversees approximately 80 businesses and state governments that directly certify organic farms and businesses.  The number of certified operations has increased since the count began in 2002.
  • The USDA recently announced data from 2016 indicating that the organic industry continues to grow domestically and globally, with 24,650 certified organic operations in the U.S., and 37,032 around the world. The Agency’s 2016 count of U.S. certified organic farms and businesses represents a 13% increase between the end of 2015 and 2016, continuing a double-digit growth trend in the organic sector.  A complete list of certified organic farms and businesses is available through the Agency’s Organic Integrity Database of certified operations, which is maintained by USDA-accredited certifying agents.
  • Given increasing consumer demand for organic foods, we expect to see continued growth in the organic sector for years to come.