State organic farm acreage up 40 percent, sales up 32 percent
The number of acres of certified organic land in Washington rose to 64,325 acres last year, up from 46,181 acres in 2005, according to Washington State University research.
The number of certified organic producers grew to 554 last year from 529 in 2005 and the amount of organic farm sales grew to $101.5 million from $77.4 million.
Researchers at Washington State University's Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources said their numbers are on the conservative side.
"We're careful to point out that the figures in the profile are a best estimate because of anomalies and inconsistencies in the available data. ... The report represents a low-end estimate of organically farmed land in the state," said WSU agriculture specialist David Granatstein, in a statement.
More information on the state's organic farming status can be found at csanr.wsu.edu/Organic/OrganicStats.htm.
This article is republished courtesy of the Puget Sound Business Journal:
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