New Farming Data Means New Organic Food Information: Part 1

May 2017: Canada will have brand new farming data coming just in time for the new planting season in spring.

The last census in Canada was in 2011 and saw a 10.3% decrease in the number of farms across Canada. However, that is not to say that farming is disappearing.

Only 1.9% of all farms in Canada are certified organic.

The decrease happened in a period where Canada had turned much of its attentions towards an economy in newer, sustainable technologies and the younger generation had (and still is) turned towards jobs in computer and business related areas.

Food production awareness has increased significantly since that time, and people are reading labels and asking questions about where their food comes from and how it was grown.  Many people do not even know what organic means but they are beginning to understand the tremendous health value of clean food.

Next to air & water, food is our greatest need on our beautiful planet.

The 2011 census resulted in 205,730 farms (of all kinds) in Canada, with 3914 certified organic.  That is only 1.9% of all farms in our country.

In 2009, Saskatchewan beat all the provinces for most certified organic operating farms and land with 1123 and 399,269 hectares respectively.

Quebec came in second for organic farms at 956 and had the most certified organic operating handlers (packers, brokers & retail) at 219, as compared to only 1 in New Brunswick.

Ontario beat Quebec in organic land at 46,772 hectares, but was third, at 716, for operating organic farms.

This data has become 5 years old now and we don’t believe it reflects the conditions that exist now.

In 2001, the statistics showed that the organic industry was worth about $1 Billion dollars – in 2014 (Agrifood Canada), the number jumped to about $4 Billion.

B.C. says it will weigh in roughly at $15 Billion by 2020, as they recently announced a new online certification tool for the future generation of organic farmers – see article here “New Online Tool …”

As hard working, sustainable organic farmers, we believe that more people understand and are willing to pay for clean food – free of pesticides & other chemicals that cause more harm than good – full of nutrition and especially because of the love, passion and care that the organic farmer puts into what their farm grows.

We will be reporting back to you in Part 2, when the new statistics are announced in May of 2017.

Please support your local community organic farmer and make sure to understand the difference between CERTIFIED ORGANIC and a farm that merely practices organic, without the actual government certification.

Feel free to contact us with your questions – we are happy to help teach anyone who wants to learn about organics!