Washington, DC
April 24, 2007
Organic agriculture needs
government resources to build infrastructure to continue to
increase its market share and meet the growing consumer demand
for organic products, Lynn Clarkson, President of Clarkson Grain
Company, Inc., testified today before the Senate Agriculture
Committee. Clarkson serves on the board of the
Organic Trade Association
(OTA), which represents the organic business community in North
America. He testified today on behalf of OTA.
"I know from my own experience with my company that U.S. farmers
are not keeping up with consumer demand for organic products,"
Clarkson said. "Today, U.S. demand for organic grains and
oilseeds could easily support a doubling of organic production
acres. Organic prices generally double conventional prices and
offer higher net farm incomes than those available to
conventional farmers. Despite buyer preference for domestic
organic production, it is the foreign farmer who seems to be
responding to the U.S. demand."
Based in Cerro Gordo, Illinois, Clarkson Grain supplies grains,
oilseeds and related ingredients for foods and feeds. The
company's processed grain can be found in tortillas, breakfast
foods, snack bars, cosmetics, baby food, salad dressing,
chocolate, soymilk and animal feeds. "The U.S. government does
not collect import data on organic goods, but imports must be
substantial," Clarkson told the agriculture panel. "OTA wants to
enhance the ability of U.S. farmers to provide as much organic
food, fiber and other organic products as possible for our
country. The Farm Bill is an opportunity to grow this segment."
The OTA Farm Bill plan focuses on four priorities:
1) Fostering Conversion to Organic Agriculture and Trade
2) Eliminating Hurdles to Organic Agriculture and Trade
3) Initiating and Funding Organic Agriculture and Economic
Research
4) Maintaining and Enhancing Current Agency Programs
For details of OTA's 2007 Farm Bill plan, see
http://www.ota.com/DraftFarmBillOutline.html.
U.S. organic food sales reached almost $14.6 billion in 2005 and
occupied about 2.5% of the retail marketplace. The fastest
growing organic product categories include meat, dairy and
condiments. Fruits and vegetables represent the largest dollar
value category in the organic sector. Organic pet food is also a
fast growing category |
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