OTA Says Organic Industry Grew Faster Than Food Industry As A Whole In 2010

The Organic Trade Association released industry survey data at a Washington policy meeting showing that the organic industry has grown from $3.6 billion in 1997 to $29 billion last year, a 700 percent increase in value. According to the OTA data, the organic sector grew by eight percent in 2010, “dramatically outpacing” the growth rate of the overall food industry. There are 14,540 organic farms and ranches in the U.S. with a total of 4.1 million acres of land under organic management, the association said. Seventy-eight percent of organic farms intend to maintain or increase production and 96 percent plan to maintain or increase employment levels in 2011.