Top Commodities

$ million

1,386

816

750

327

277

242

233

218

175

Milk

Eggs

Broiler chickens 

Apples

Lettuce

Strawberries

Cattle

Grapes

Tomatoes (in the open)

Corn for grain 164

About the Survey

The 2016 Certified Organic Survey 

is a census of all known U.S. farmers 

and ranchers with certified organic 

production in 2016. NASS conducted 

the survey in conjunction with USDA’s 

Risk Management Agency. To be 

included, producers must be certified 

by an approved agent of USDA’s 

Agricultural Marketing Service’s 

National Organic Program.

The 2016 data, as well as results of 

previous NASS organic surveys, are 

available in the NASS searchable 

database Quick Stats at www.

quickstats.nass.usda.gov or as PDF 

publications at www.nass.usda.gov/

organics.

U.S. farms and ranches sold $7.6 billion in certified organic commodities in 

2016, up 23 percent from $6.2 billion the year before. Of 2016 sales,

56 percent was for crops ($4.2 billion), 44 percent for livestock, poultry, and 

related products ($3.4 billion). Certified organic farms and land increased

as well.

Certified Organic Farms and Land

Between 2015 and 2016, the number of certified organic farms in the country 

increased 11 percent to 14,217, and the number of certified acres increased 

15 percent to 5.0 million. California led in 

both categories, with 2,713 certified farms 

and 1.1 million acres, 21 percent of total U.S. 

certified organic land. 

Only two other states had more than 1,000 

certified organic farms: Wisconsin (1,276) and 

New York (1,059). Six additional states had 

more than 500 farms: Pennsylvania (803), 

Iowa (732), Washington (677), Ohio (575), 

Vermont (556), and Minnesota (545).

(Figure 1)

NASS Highlights

United States Department of Agriculture

National Agricultural Statistics Service www.nass.usda.gov

October 2017 • No. 2017-6

California led in farms, 

land, and sales

2016 CERTIFIED ORGANIC SURVEY

Sales Up 23 Percent

Fig. 1. Number of Certified Organic Farms by State, 2016

< 50

50 - 99

100 - 499

500 - 999

1,000 +

U.S. = 14,217

Top States: Certified Organic Acres

(thousands)

California 1,070

Alaska (D)

Montana 266

New York 264

Wisconsin 219

Oregon 195

Idaho 179

Colorado 176

Texas 147

Vermont 134

(D) = number withheld to avoid disclosing data 

for individual farms.

Certified organic

land in Texas 

increased 69 percent 

between 2015 and 

2016.
Certified Organic Sales

Ten states accounted for 

three fourths (77 percent) 

of 2016 sales. With 

$2.9 billion in certified 

organic commodity sales, 

California continued 

to lead the nation, 

accounting for

38 percent of the U.S. 

total.

Organic production 

encompasses a wide range of commodities. Of the total, 

$4.2 billion came from crops, $2.2 billion from livestock 

and poultry products (primarily milk and eggs), and

$1.2 billion from livestock and poultry. (Tables 1 and 2)

Table 1. Certified Organic Sales by Sector, 2015 and 2016

($ billion and percent change)

2015 2016 % change

Crops 3.5 4.2 20

Livestock and poultry products 1.9 2.2 15

Livestock and poultry 0.7 1.2 56

Total 6.2 7.6 23

Milk and eggs were the top two certified commodities 

sold. Milk, valued at $1.4 billion, was up 18 percent from 

2015, and eggs, at $816 million, increased 11 percent. 

Broiler chickens ranked third, with sales of $750 million. 

Among crops, the top selling commodities were apples, 

lettuce and strawberries. 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. 

www.nass.usda.gov

Top States: Certified Organic Sales

($ million)

California 2,889

Pennsylvania 660

Washington 636

Oregon 351

Texas 297

Wisconsin 255

New York 216

Michigan 201

Colorado 181

North Carolina 145

Table 2. Certified Organic Sales by Major Sector and Top 

Commodities, 2016

($ million and percent change)

Sector

Total

Commodity 

Sales

% change, 

2015 to

($ million) 2016

Livestock and poultry products 2,205 15

Milk 1,386 18

Eggs 816 11

Vegetables in the open 1,644 21

Lettuce 277 6

Tomatoes 175 102

Potatoes 151 127

Spinach 118 -24

Sweet potatoes 101 43

Fruits, tree nuts, and berries 1,407 17

Apples 327 8

Strawberries 242 60

Grapes 218 4

Blueberries 101 -19

Livestock and poultry 1,157 56

Broiler chickens 750 78

Cattle 233 0

Turkeys 83 19

Field crops 763 16

Corn for grain 164 27

Hay 130 11

Wheat 107 -1

Soybeans 78 25

Tobacco 62 26

Nursery and floriculture 113 64

Mushrooms 111 16

Vegetables under protection 89 22

Total 7,554 23

Organic Sales by Percent of Change in the State, 2015 to 2016

10+ % decrease

<10% increase/decrease

10 - 30% increase

30 - 100% increase

100+ % increase

U.S. = 23%

Some states with lower 

volume of sales in 2015 

enjoyed high rates of 

increase in 2016.