Organic and Non-GMO Market News

U.S. organic sales hit $69.7 billion in 2023, increase of 3.4% over 2022

U.S. sales of certified organic products approached $70 billion in 2023, a new record for the sector. Dollar sales for the American organic marketplace hit $69.7 billion last year, up 3.4 percent, according to the 2024 Organic Industry Survey recently released by the Organic Trade Association (OTA). Despite stubborn price inflation seen throughout retail aisles, […]

Grain buyers offer contracts to grow organic and non-GMO grains in 2024

The following companies are offering contracts to farmers to grow non-GMO and organic grains in 2024: Bluegrass Farms of Ohio, Jeffersonville, OH Phone: 740-426-6683 Email: alanm@bluegrassfarmsohio.com Contact: Alan McElwain Contracts offered: Non-GMO and organic soybeans contracts. Clark Specialty Grains, Gothenburg, NE Phone: 308-537-2004 Email:clark@clarkspecialtygrains.com Contact:Jim Clark Contracts offered:Organic and conventional food-grade non-GMO yellow, white, blue, […]

Organic industry stakeholders express optimism, skepticism about fraud prevention rule

Stakeholders in the organic industry are expressing both optimism and skepticism about the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE) rule, which aims to stop fraudulent practices in the organic food market. “Nobody knows how big the fraud is” Gerald Herrmann, CEO of Germany-based Organic Services, GmbH, calls SOE a “game changer.” He gives […]

Fraud is “unquestionably, the biggest threat to organic”

Will the Strengthening Organic Enforcement Rule help to stop import and domestic fraud in the organic market? In 2007, the owner of an organic soybean processing plant in California received a railcar of what she thought—and paid $100,000 for—was organic soybeans. But lab testing revealed the soybeans were 20% genetically modified. In 2017, an investigative […]

Nature’s Path changes leadership but mission to “leave the earth better than you found it” remains the same

There have been many organic food companies that achieved a level of success and then were purchased by a large food company. Cascadian Farm and Annie’s, purchased by General Mills, and Kashi, purchased by Kellogg’s, are three examples. That won’t happen at Nature’s Path Organic Foods, a family-owned business that has been a pioneering leader […]