Information on organic food for producers and consumers has improved significantly in the past decade, but more work needs to be done. That was the consensus among presenters at the Agricultural Outlook Forum on Jan. 18 during a session on “Improving Information on Organics.”
According to Ron Strochlic, executive director of the California Institute for Rural Studies, 76.3 percent of producers receive information on organic food from other farmers and the internet. Unfortunately, “most have problems locating and accessing markets and organic price information,” through these avenues, said Strochlic. He added that 20 percent of producers find it difficult to interpret organic standards. “We can do better,” said Strochlic.
Mike Sheats, branch chief, Market News and Analysis in the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service agrees that more can be done, but highlighted advances made since 2002 when USDA established organic standards. Prior to 2002, limited market information was available. Today, based on requirements in the 2008 farm bill the Agricultural Marketing Service provides weekly updates on all aspects of organic food and plans to expand in 2010 to include weekly reports on organic shell eggs and organic dairy.
Yet, he maintains that challenges still exist. “It’s hard to gather information efficiently due to the large number of smaller scale organic producers,” said Sheats.
An even larger challenge is educating consumers who tend to dip in and out of the organic market, according to Christine Bushway, executive director, Organic Trade Association.“The industry needs to put out more information on organics,” she said.
Based on a survey conducted by the association, three out of 10 parents know about the USDA organic seal. Despite that ratio, 73 percent of U.S. households with children reported having made purchases of organic food; however, as children grow up and leave the house, families tend to move away from organic purchases.
