By Malinda Geisler, content specialist, AgMRC, Iowa State University, malindag@iastate.edu.

Profile updated April 2011. 


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 $1.59 million. Wisconsin had the most organic hog farms with 32 and sales of $419,528.

According to USDA's Economic Research Service (ERS), retail sales of organic foods was $21.1 billion in 2008, up from $3.6 billion in 1997. Half of the organic food sales take place in conventional retail stores. Organic food sales represented approximately 3 percent of total U.S. food sales in 2006. 
 
According to ERS, increased sales of organic and natural food products are being driven by health-conscious consumers. Natural foods supermarkets and other specialized retailers are benefiting from this trend. Food products offered by natural foods supermarkets tend to be less processed and frequently are free of preservatives, hormones and artificial ingredients.

USDA standards for organic food were implemented in 2002. Organic pork is raised in a production system that promotes and enhances biodiversity and biological cycles. It is based on minimal use of off-farm inputs. Pigs intended for meat products must be raised organically from the last third of gestation and without the use of antibiotics and growth hormone stimulants. In general, organic foods are minimally processed with artificial ingredients or preservatives.

According to the USDA, certified organic means "agricultural products have been grown and processed according to specific standards of various state and private certification organizations." Certifying agents review farm applications and qualified inspectors conduct annual on-site inspections. Farm records track all management practices and materials used in organic production.

Farm and processing operations that grow and process organic foods must be certified by USDA-accredited certifying agents. A certified operation must have a written Organic Farm Plan available to the public on request. An exception to the certification rule is made for operations with gross agricultural incomes of $5,000 or less.

Marketing channels for organic products depend on the size of market. For national distribution, organic products in general tend to move from the farm level to a cooperative processor and on to retailers. Another possibility is for production to move from a processor and then to a distributor before reaching retail outlets.

Due to increased feed costs, organically produced pork tends to be more expensive to raise compared to pork raised conventionally. Thus, consumers pay more. Unlike other organic products, organic meat tends to be marketed through natural foods stores rather than supermarket chains.

Local distribution of organically produced pork ranges from consumers purchasing directly from a farm location, through farmers’ markets or via the Internet.

In January 2005, the Agricultural Marketing Service announced rules to exempt certain organic producers and marketers from paying assessments under the research and promotion programs. Pork is one of 17 national research and promotion programs. The change will exempt producers and marketers operating under a National Organic Program approved organic system plan from paying assessments, provided they produce and market only commodities eligible for a "100 percent organic" label.

Processing
USDA-accredited certifying agents must also certify processors of organic foods. A certified operation must have a written Organic Farm Plan available to the public on request. Processors with organic sales totaling $5,000 or less are exempt from the certification rule.

Non-certified processors, producers and handlers are allowed to use the term “organic” in compliance with labeling requirements.

A list of certified processors is currently being compiled by the USDA's ERS.
 

Sources
2008 Organic Survey, The Census of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA, 2010.

Marketing U.S. Organic Foods: Recent Trends from Farms to Consumers, Economic Research Service (ERS), 2009.

The National Organic Program

Organic Agriculture, ERS, USDA.

Organic Production, ERS, USDA.

Organic Trade Association Overview


Profile created February 2003 and updated April 2011.