Top States: Organic Sales and Acres, 2019

Sales Acres

$ million thousand

California 3,597 California 965

Washington 886 Alaska (D)

Pennsylvania 742 Montana 356

Oregon 454 New York 323

Texas 424 Wisconsin 251

North Carolina 370 Texas 246

New York 298 Nebraska 232

Wisconsin 269 Vermont 203

Michigan 231 Oregon 196

Idaho 206 Idaho 181

Arizona 203 Minnesota 173

(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.

Organic Farming

ACH17-21/October 2020

Highlights Results from the 2019 Organic Survey

United States Department of Agriculture

National Agricultural Statistics Service www.nass.usda.gov/AgCensus

Organic Sales

Sales of organic commodities overall 

rose 31%, from 2016 to 2019, but 

varied by sector. Livestock and poultry 

products, primarily milk and eggs, 

increased by the smallest amount 

(12%). Crops and livestock and poultry 

increased by larger amounts (38% and 

44% respectively). The share of sales 

of organic products from crops rose 

slightly from 2016 to 2019. In 2019, 58% 

of organic sales came from crops, led by 

vegetables and fruits (including berries 

and tree nuts). 

2019 Sales

($ million)

% Change

Since 2016

Crops 5,787 38

Livestock and 

 poultry 

 products

2,476 12

Livestock and 

 poultry

1,663 44

Total 9,926 31

Top Organic Commodities, 2019

Sales 

($ million)

Milk 1,585

Broiler chickens 1,115

Eggs 887

Apples 475

Lettuce 400

Sales of certified organic commodities continue to increase, with sales up 31% 

from 2016, the year of the most recent survey of certified organic agriculture. 

The number of operations producing certified organic commodities was up 

17%, and land used for certified organic production was up 9%.

16,585

farms

5.5 million

acres

$9.9 billion

sales 

Organic Farms, Acres, and Sales, 2008 to 2019

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

14,000

16,000

18,000

2008 Survey 2014 Survey 2016 Survey 2019 Survey

Farms Acres (1,000s acres) Sales ($ million)

Since the first organic 

survey in 2008, the 

number of organic 

farms, the acres 

used for organic 

production, and 

the value of organic 

products sold 

have all increased, 

with value of sales 

more than tripling 

between 2008 to 

2019.

California produced 

36% of the total U.S. 

value of certified 

organic agricultural 

products sold, with 

more than four times 

the value of any 

other state. Eleven 

states sold more 

than $200 million in 

organic products, or 

77% of the U.S. total.
USDA NASS, 2019 Organic Survey (2017 Census of Agriculture). USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Commodity Sales

Milk and broiler chickens were the top two organic commodities, with more than $1 billion 

each in sales, followed by eggs at almost $900 million. Sales of broiler chickens increased 

sharply from 2016, up almost 50%. Sales of milk and eggs increased at slower rates. Sales of the 

major crop categories (vegetables, fruits, and field crops) were all up, with sales of field crops 

increasing by more than 50%. Among crops, the top selling commodities were apples, lettuce, 

grapes, and strawberries. 

Organic Production Practices

The survey asked organic farmers about a variety of organic production practices. 

The most common practices include maintaining buffer strips or border rows to 

isolate organic from non-organic crops, applying animal manures, and using water 

management practices.

No. of Farms

Buffer strips or border rows to isolate organic from conventional crops 10,796

Animal manures used 9,160

Water management practices used 7,880

Green manures used 7,564

Conservation tillage, no-till or minimum till used 5,970

Mulch or compost, produced or used 5,737

Planting locations planned, to avoid cross-infestation of pests 4,962

About the Survey

The 2019 Organic Survey is a follow-on survey to 

the 2017 Census of Agriculture. The survey is a 

census of all known U.S. farms and ranches with 

certified organic production in 2019, as well as 

those who indicated on the census that they were 

transitioning into organic production. Certified 

organic producers are certified by an approved 

agent of the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing 

Service‘s National Organic Program. 

The 2019 data, as well as results of previous NASS 

organic surveys, are available in the NASS Quick Stats 

database at www.quickstats.nass.usda.gov, or as a 

PDF file publication at www.nass.usda.gov/organics. 

Plans for Future 

Production

The 2019 survey asked organic farmers 

about their plans for organic production 

in the next five years. The survey also 

asked about any acres they may have 

in transition to organic production. 

Before becoming certified, the land used 

must go through a three-year transition 

period in which no organic-prohibited 

substances are applied.

% All Farms a

Maintain current level of organic 

 production

44

Increase organic production 29

Unknown future intentions 20

Decrease organic production 4

Discontinue organic production 2

Discontinue all ag production 2

Certified organic farms reported an 

additional 255,060 acres currently 

transitioning to organic production. 

Other farms (not currently certified) 

reported 60,611 acres transitioning.

a May not add to 100% due to rounding.

Farm Characteristics

Sales Class % of Farms % of Salesa

11% 0.1%

38% 3%

22% 6%

12% 7%

< $10,000

$10,000 - $99,999

$100,000 - $249,999

$250,000 - $499,999

$500,000+ 17% 84%

$2 billion The amount of sales organic producers reported as being 

direct to retail markets, institutions, and food hubs. 

Sector Total

($ million)

Sales

($ million)

% Change, 

2016 to 2019

Livestock and poultry products 2,476 12

 Milk 1,585 14

 Eggs 887 9

Vegetables in the open 2,084 27

 Lettuce 400 44

 Spinach 179 52

 Potatoes 155 3

 Tomatoes 132 -24

 Carrots 132 49

Fruits, tree nuts, and berries 2,023 44

 Apples 475 45

 Grapes 332 52

 Strawberries 321 33

 Blueberries, cultivated 205 104

 Raspberries 92 197

Livestock and poultry 1,663 44

 Broiler chickens 1,115 49

 Cattle 293 26

 Turkeys 139 68

Field crops 1,180 55

 Corn, for grain 278 70

 Hay, alfalfa 154 45

 Wheat 149 39

 Soybeans 109 39

Mushrooms 161 45

Vegetables under protection 133 49

Nursery, propagative materials, and floriculture 115 2

Maple syrup 91 39

Total 9,926 31

The largest organic farms (sales of $500,000 

or more) accounted for fewer than 20% of 

farms but more than 80% of sales. 

a May not add to 100% due to rounding.