California Agricultural Issues Lab
of the University of California
Morning Ag Clips / October 20, 2020
University of California releases “Statistical Review of California Organic Agriculture, 2013-2016.”
“This report of organic data continues the series of studies initiated by Karen Klonsky many years ago. It contains vital summary information for industry and policymakers as well as researchers,” said Goodhue.
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) State Organic Program (SOP) oversees organic agricultural production, milk and dairy food processing, meat and poultry processing, and retail organic production activities. All organic producers, handlers, and processors must complete the organic registration before the first sale of organic products. The registration process collects information on commodity, location, sales value, acreage, and area. Registration by each operation must be annually renewed unless the registration is no longer
needed.This report uses the data provided by individual operations to provide number of growers, acreage, and farm gate sales revenue for the organic industry in California. Tables are constructed for each commodity, commodity group, county, region, and statewide using the CDFA organic registration data from 2013 to 2016. Registrations are aggregated by the year to which the submission applies.
This publication quantifies the current size and growth of the organic industry in California in terms of acres, farm gate sales and number of growers statewide and by commodity, commodity group, county, and region, based on California Department of Agriculture registration data from 2009 to 2012.
See PDF here: Statistical Review of California’s Organic Agriculture 2009-2012 by Karen Klonsky, Brian D. Healy, October 2013.
Presentation by AIC Associate Director Karen Klonsky for a USDA Organic Farming Systems Research Conference (3/16/2011) in Washington DC.
See PDF presentation here: The Profitability of Organic Agriculture: Lessons from the Sustainable Agriculture Farming Systems Project (SAFS)
In this paper we compare the farming practices used for a range of California crops with respect to inputs employed (materials, fuel, and labor) and the related costs. We determine the types of substitutions made for synthetic fertilizers and pesticides by organic farmers. In particular, we identify the circumstances under which cultural practices are insufficient and allowed fertilizer supplements and pesticides are employed, illuminating the complexity of organic production and its unique challenges.
Presentation by AIC Associate Director Karen Klonsky for a webinar (3/1/2011) sponsored by NRCS.
This publication quantifies the current size and growth of the organic industry in California in terms of acres, farm gate sales and number of growers statewide and by commodity, commodity group, county, and region based on CDFA registration data from 2005 – 2009.
See PDF here: Statistical Review of California’s Organic Agriculture 2005-2009
California leads the nation with the highest number of organic farms, land in organic production, and organic sales. Two-thirds of organic sales in California are from produce, one- fourth from livestock, and the remainder from field crops. The vast majority of organic farmers in California plan to increase or maintain their current levels of organic production.
See PDF article here: A Look at California’s Organic Agriculture Production by Karen Klonsky, ARE Update, Nov/Dec, 2010
The 2007 Farm Bill is likely to address issues important for producers and consumers, especially research and development and additional support to facilitate the growth of the organic industry.
AIC Farm Bill Brief #3: Organic Agriculture in the 2007 Farm Bill
Karen Klonsky (pdf, 300kb)
This publication quantifies the current size and growth of the organic industry in California in terms of acres, farm gate sales and number of growers statewide and by commodity, commodity group, county, and region based on CDFA registration data from 1999-2005.
See PDF here: Statistical Review of California Organic Agriculture 2000-2005
This publication quantifies the current size and growth of the organic industry in California in terms of acres, farm gate sales and number of growers statewide and by commodity, commodity group, county, and region, based on CDFA registration data from 1997-2003.
See PDF here: Statistical Review of California’s Organic Agriculture 1998-2003