Overview

In December 2008, the United States had 8,940 hogs and pigs certified organic on 258 farms. Iowa was number one in organic hog inventory with 3,413. Iowa's 19 organic hog farms had sales of $1.6 million. Wisconsin had the most organic hog farms with 32 and sales of $419,528.  July 2012 ...  Organic Pork

Marketing

• Pork: Alternative Marketing, Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA), NCAT, 2004 - This study explains alternative marketing methods, such as direct, niche or organic-labeled pork, for producers using sustainable agricultural practices.
• Factors Affecting Pork Consumption, Economic Research Service (ERS), USDA, 2005 - Pork ranks third in annual U.S. meat consumption. This report analyzes existing and potential pork consumption trends using demographic data.
• Fourth National Organic Farmers' Survey: Sustaining Organic Farms in a Changing Organic Marketplace (Full Report), Organic Farming Research Foundation, 2004 - OFRF's National Organic Farmers' Surveys have collected data about organic farmers and farming for the years 1993, 1995, 1997 and 2001.
• Fourth National Organic Farmers' Survey: Sustaining Organic Farms in a Changing Organic Marketplace (Executive Summary), Organic Farming Research Foundation, 2004.
• Hogs, ERS, USDA.
• Market Trends, Organic Trade Association.
• Organic Farming and Marketing, ERS, USDA - This site provides a wealth of statistics related to organic products.
• Organic Livestock Requirements, National Organic Program, AMS, USDA,  February 2013 - This fact sheet clarifies requirements for livestock to be certified organic. This fact sheet especially focuses on the ruminant pasture standards.
• Organic Production, ERS, USDA - This site includes data sets through 2005. 

Processing/Manufacturing

• American Association of Meat Processors (AAMP) - Represents more than 1,300 small- and medium-sized meat, poultry and food businesses.
• North American Meat Processors Association (NAMP) - A nonprofit trade association that provides information and technical services to the meat processing industry.

Production

• Comparison of Pig Flow and Labor Needs in Two Organic Pork Production Systems, Iowa State University, 2001 - This research report evaluates pig flow and labor needs for two organic pork production systems. One system is a seasonal organic pork production system, while the other system is a continuous organic pork production system.
• Cost of Organic Pork Production, Iowa State University, 2003 - One issue that frequently surfaces in the organic pork production industry is the relatively limited information on production costs. The objective of this report is to determine the cost of organic pork production. This report addresses the issue by examining the increase of costs involved in expanding a seasonal (summer-only farrowing) organic pork production system to continuous production of organic hogs.
• Managing for Herd Health in Alternative Swine Systems: A Guide, Practical Farmers of Iowa, 2004 - This guide was funded with a grant from the North Central Region of SARE, the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program, USDA.
• Organic Pork Standards Fact Sheet, National Pork Board - This fact sheet explains what the organic standards mean to pork producers.
• Raising Organic Pigs: A Guide to USDA Certified Organic Requirements, ATTRA, National Sustainable Ag Information Service, 2011 - This publication addresses the four general topics related to organic certification for pigs: source of animals, feed, healthcare and living conditions.  

Businesses/Case Studies

• Becker Lane Organic Farm, Dyersville, Iowa - This sixth-generation family farm raises certified organic pork. Primal pork cuts are sold under the Becker Lane Organic brand. Processed meat is sold as Berkshire County Provisions. Since 2007, the farm has partnered with an Iowa-based artisan proscuitto maker, La Quercia, to feed acorns to a group of pigs for the Acorn Edition.
• Comparison of Premiums and Returns in Organic Pork Production, 2001 - This research study evaluated alternative premium payments and structures for organic pork production.
• Considerations in Organic Hog Production, Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA), NCAT, 2001 - This study reviews hog behaviors, pasture and housing considerations, husbandry and health issues associated with organic hog production.
• Organic Valley Family of Farms, LaFarge, Wisconsin - This business claims to be the largest organic farmer-owned cooperative in the United States, marketing pork and other meats under its Organic Prairie brand.
• Tide Mill Organic Farm, Edmunds, Maine - Tide Mill Organics is a certified organic meat and produce business operated by husband/wife Aaron Bell and Cindy DelSignore. The farm is part of a multi-family ninth-generation farm. The business markets freezer pork in a variety of packages.

Links checked July 2012.