California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) has revealed that the economic downturn failed to deter organisations looking to go organic in 2009, with the group registering 8 per cent growth in the number of certified operations and total certified organic acreage in California last year.
According to CCOF figures, the number of certified operations increased from 2,007 in 2008 to 2,168 in 2009, with certified acreage growing from 558,137 (225,870ha) to 603,545 (244,245ha).
Increasing numbers were put down to a number of figures by the CCOF, including a commitment to organic practices on the part of the farmer and high consumer demand in the face of the recession.
Fruit crops saw substantial growth last year, particularly in raisin grape and citrus acreage, with the latter's organic certified production area up 39.2 per cent to 888 acres (359ha). Organic berries also showed strong growth with certified acreage up 20 per cent, with the category increasing 203 per cent over the last four years from 1,500 acres (607ha) to 4,500 acres (1,821ha).
The vegetable category showed a mixed bag of results, CCOF said, with garlic acreage increasing by 533 per cent over the past four years while declines were seen in lettuce, carrots and processing tomatoes.
'It's a combination of factors that keeps the growth of the organic sector healthy,' said Jane Baker, CCOF director of sales and marketing. 'There is a continued strong demand throughout the food supply from the consumer to the retailer, right back to processors and growers, and this keeps demand for our certification services strong.'
The organisation has acknowledged that the curve is flattening out, however, with growth slowing year-on-year.
'We know it is tough out there,' said Jake Lewin, CCOF chief certification officer. 'Last year we saw substantially more operations withdraw from certification compared with previous years.'
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