In 2022, organic food sales in the U.S. topped $60 billion for the first time, hitting another high-level mark for the growing organic sector. Total organic sales — including organic nonfood products — reached a record $67.6 billion, according to a recently released 2023 Organic Industry Survey by the Organic Trade Association. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says that the USDA is taking steps as part of its commitment to strengthen the market for domestically grown organic goods and to support producers seeking organic certification. These funding opportunities are part of the USDA’s Organic Transition Initiative, launched in the fall of 2022, which is a suite of offerings to help existing organic farmers and those transitioning to organic production and processing, according to a news release. It’s Farm Bill season, and this year, we need to seed more organic agriculture – starting with the Opportunities in Organic Act (S. 1582), introduced today by Senator Peter Welch and twelve other Senators (with a House companion led by Congressman Jimmy Panetta expected soon). The bill would invest in comprehensive and easily accessible tools that remove barriers for organic and transitioning farmers – and entice more to join them. A review of the current scientific literature showed that pesticides are widely present in soils, water, and air and have the potential to contaminate organic produce. These contamination pathways must be considered when findings of pesticide residues are investigated. Vermont Business Magazine Today Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) introduced the Opportunities in Organic Act, legislation designed to help farmers and other agricultural producers transition to organic practices and build successful and sustainable businesses. Organic agriculture enriches rural economies, protects biodiversity and soil health, and supports public health, but farmers face steep barriers to entry, including high certification costs and insufficient technical assistance from existing United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs. The Opportunities in Organic Act helps mitigate these challenges by modernizing reimbursements for organic certification and expanding available technical expertise for organic agriculture within USDA.
The Farm Bill Needs Opportunities in Organic
It’s Farm Bill season, and this year, we need to seed more organic agriculture – starting with the Opportunities in Organic Act (S. 1582), introduced today by Senator Peter Welch and twelve other Senators (with a House companion led by Congressman Jimmy Panetta expected soon). The bill would invest in comprehensive and easily accessible tools that remove barriers for organic and transitioning farmers – and entice more to join them.
https://www.nrdc.org/bio/allison-johnson/farm-bill-needs-opportunities-organic
Welch introduces bill to reduce obstacles to organic agriculture
Vermont Business Magazine Today Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) introduced the Opportunities in Organic Act, legislation designed to help farmers and other agricultural producers transition to organic practices and build successful and sustainable businesses. Organic agriculture enriches rural economies, protects biodiversity and soil health, and supports public health, but farmers face steep barriers to entry, including high certification costs and insufficient technical assistance from existing United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs. The Opportunities in Organic Act helps mitigate these challenges by modernizing reimbursements for organic certification and expanding available technical expertise for organic agriculture within USDA.
https://vermontbiz.com/news/2023/may/11/welch-introduces-bill-reduce-obstacles-organic-agriculture
USDA announces new steps to enhance organic markets and support producers
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says that the USDA is taking steps as part of its commitment to strengthen the market for domestically grown organic goods and to support producers seeking organic certification. These funding opportunities are part of the USDA’s Organic Transition Initiative, launched in the fall of 2022, which is a suite of offerings to help existing organic farmers and those transitioning to organic production and processing, according to a news release.
Produce leads record-breaking organic food sales, report says
In 2022, organic food sales in the U.S. topped $60 billion for the first time, hitting another high-level mark for the growing organic sector. Total organic sales — including organic nonfood products — reached a record $67.6 billion, according to a recently released 2023 Organic Industry Survey by the Organic Trade Association.
https://www.thepacker.com/news/organic/produce-leads-record-breaking-organic-food-sales-report-says
What impact has environmental pesticide contamination on the organic food chain?
A review of the current scientific literature showed that pesticides are widely present in soils, water, and air and have the potential to contaminate organic produce. These contamination pathways must be considered when findings of pesticide residues are investigated.
