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Growth and Opportunity in the Organic Sector

November 10, 2016 Elanor Starmer, Agricultural Marketing Service Administrator

Since USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) implemented the organic regulations in 2002, the U.S. organic sector has tripled in size to over 22,000 certified organic operations with over $43 billion in U.S. retail sales. Demand for organic products is expected to continue growing. This strong...

Food and Nutrition Farming Trade

A Moment in Time Look at Organic Retail Prices

July 20, 2016 Terry Long, Specialty Crops Program Market News Director, USDA Agricultural Marketing Service

Consumers can find certified organic products at most grocery stores and demand for organic products continues to increase, with U.S. retail sales valued at more than $43 billion in 2015. Organic products are grown, raised and produced by over 31,000 certified operations, and many of those...

Food and Nutrition Farming

Local and Organic Food Shopping - Finding the Best Price

May 19, 2016 Craig A. Morris, AMS Livestock, Poultry, and Seed Program Deputy Administrator and Hailee May, Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Local Foods Tracking Administrative Coordinator

When comparing product prices between farmers markets and retail stores, local products are competitively priced - within a 10 percent price range - at farmers markets a majority of the time, even less expensive for some foods. Local, certified organic products at farmers markets are almost always...

Food and Nutrition Farming

Mapping Out Farmers Market Success

May 18, 2016 Arthur Neal, AMS Deputy Administrator, Transportation and Marketing Program

Anticipation is building for the opening of seasonal farmers markets in communities across the country—especially in Takoma Park, MD, at the Crossroads Farmers Market. With over 1,000 visitors each week and vendors offering 131 different fruits and vegetables, market manager Michelle Dudley has a...

Food and Nutrition Farming

New GroupGAP Certification Brings New Opportunities for the Produce Industry

April 04, 2016 Charles W. Parrott, Deputy Administrator, Specialty Crops Program Deputy Administrator

Excitement is building in the produce industry. From salad greens to roasted beets to fresh blueberries, local food is showing up on grocery stores shelves, as new features on restaurants menus and on our kids’ school lunch plates. The increased demand for local food is creating more opportunities...

Food and Nutrition Health and Safety Farming

USDA Deputy Under Secretary Promotes Business Development in Ohio

July 20, 2010

By Michael Jones, Ohio USDA Public Information Coordinator Ohio Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur invited USDA Rural Development Deputy Under Secretary Cheryl L. Cook to attend a district sponsored USDA Resource Fair earlier this month. Cook and about 90 business owners, agricultural growers, local...

USDA Results Rural
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