2016 Organic Sales Up 23%

Sales of organic agriculture products increased 23% last year, when compared with 2015 levels.  NASS released the annual Certified Organic Survey Wednesday.  The survey finds U.S. farms produced and sold $7.6 billion in certified organic commodities, well ahead of the $6.2 billion produced in 2015.  During the same year, the number of certified organic farms in the country increased 11% to 14,217, and the number of certified acres increased 15% to five million.  California, with $2.9 billion in certified organic sales, continued to lead the nation in certified sales, accounting for 38% of the U.S. total. Ten states accounted for 77% of U.S. certified organic sales, virtually the same share as in 2015 and 2014.

Top organic commodities, according to USDA, include milk, eggs, broiler chickens, apples and lettuce.

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