The United States Department of Agriculture’s National Agriculture Statistics Services (NASS) released results from the 2014 Organic Production Survey, which is the first “comprehensive snapshot of organic agriculture since 2008,” according to a press release.

“This survey is incredibly valuable because it provides important trend data for the organic industry and farmers interested in transitioning into organic production,” said Paul Wolfe, a policy specialist with the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC).

The survey reports a 72 percent increase in organic sales since 2008, and it also states that the overall number of organic farms and total acreage of farm and ranchland under organic production have decreased over the same time period.

“While we are concerned with both the small decrease in the number of organic farms and the sizable loss of acres being farmed organically, the findings suggest that organic farmers are intensifying production and finding ways to add more value to their existing operations, which is great,” Wolfe said. “The question nonetheless remains as to why we are losing organic acreage at a time when demand for organic products has never been higher and imports are increasing. This question needs to be addressed lest we lose valuable market share.”

The survey also shows that organic production remains geographically concentrated on the West Coast, the Northeast and the North Central region. California continues to lead the country in number of organic farms, acres and sales—generating 41 percent of our country’s organic agricultural sales. Wisconsin, Washington, Oregon and New York also have large numbers of organic farms and sales of organic products.

The survey revealed that while most organic farms rely on wholesale markets, almost half of all organic farms sell directly to consumers, such as through a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) or farmers’ market.

“Organic farmers continue to contribute significantly to local and regional food systems, with over 46 percent of all organic sales occurring within 100 miles from the farm,” Wolfe said.

The survey expansion, which was done at the urging of NSAC and other organic stakeholders, will allow the organic industry to have important trend data. This will help organic producers and those considering transitioning to organic production to be better informed on growth trends, production challenges, price premiums and domestic supply.

“We hope they [USDA and Congress] will work together to ensure that the Organic Production Survey continues to be conducted regularly in the years to come,” Wolfe said.

For more information, visit http://sustainableagriculture.net/blog/2014-org-production-survey.