New York State launches organic-farming initiative

CNY Business Journal (1996+), Oct 19, 2007 by Gregory, Traci

With even Wal-Mart now stocking organic products on its shelves, there's no denying the organic-foods trend is here to stay.

And that means farmers across New York State have an opportunity to capture a share of that lucrative market.

In 2005, the latest year for which figures are available, the sale of organic foods grew 16 percent to $13.8 billion, according to the Organic Trade Association.

In the wake of the still-growing organic trend, the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets has launched a new organic-farming initiative that includes a full-time organic-agriculture specialist and a new section devoted to organic resources on the department's Web site.

"There is definitely a trend from consumers who are looking for organically produced food," says Jessica Chittenden, a spokesperson for the department. "There is a market demand for organic food."

But a farmer can't just say, "I'm going to produce organic crops" and have it be as simple as that, she says. The United States Department of Agriculture has organic guidelines in place, along with a national certification process.

"To become an organic farm, it does entail a different management technique," Chittenden says. It also calls for different farming methods in some cases, and organic farming typically costs more than non-organic methods.

The purpose of the new state organic initiative is to let farmers know about organic farming opportunities and provide information and resources about organic farming, Chittenden says.

The Web site (www.agmkt.state.ny.us/AP/organic) features a dozen new pages of information on organic farming including how to become certified, marketing opportunities in the state, consumer information on organic labels and production, a list of organic associations and activities, and a resource list of studies and other information about organic farming.

"We want to make sure those kinds of resources are available to them," Chittenden says.

Sarah Johnston, the new organic-agriculture specialist at the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, is another resource for organic farmers. Johnston is the former executive director of the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York.

Johnston will serve as the liaison between the department and the farming community, Chittenden says, and she is currently working with producers to create a priority list of organic-research needs. Johnston also created the department's online resource center.

New York ranks among the top 10 states in the country in the number of organic farms, with nearly 600 certified organic farms and nearly 70,000 acres in production in 2006.

But with a total of about 35,000 farms in the state, there is certainly room to grow New York's organic presence, Chittenden notes.