by Mónica Cordero, Investigate Midwest/Report for America
September 11, 2024

The number of organic farms in the country has declined by nearly 5% over the past five years, from 18,166 in 2017 to 17,321 in 2022, according to the latest Census of Agriculture data released earlier this year. 

However, sales still increased by more than 32%, rising from approximately $7.3 billion in 2017 to about $9.6 billion in 2022.

Census data includes both certified organic operations and smaller entities exempt from certification due to gross annual organic sales under $5,000. Both certified and exempt operations adhere to agricultural practices that support resource cycling, ecological balance and biodiversity conservation. 

Organic product sales are heavily clustered on the West Coast, particularly in California, as well as in the upper Midwest, Great Lakes regions, southeast Pennsylvania, and central North Carolina.

Among the various groups, the organic farms with annual sales exceeding $50,000 saw the most significant growth, increasing by 8% over five years. In contrast, the farms generating between $5,000 and $9,999 per year from organic products experienced the most significant decline, with a decrease of 29%.

This article first appeared on Investigate Midwest and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.