A new study by Washington State university says the value of certified organic crops to the state’s farmers rose 16 percent in 2010, to a total of $244.6 million.
The study released Wednesday by the WSU Center for Sustaining Agriculture also found that the amount of certified organic crop acreage and the number of certified organic farms in Washington state decreased.
Eastern Washington accounted for 76 percent of organic farm sales in 2010, the most recent year available. Grant County repeated as the state’s leading producer of organic crops, with $64 million in farm sales, more than the next three counties combined. Grant County has more than 25 percent of the organic acreage in the state, including 47 percent of vegetable acreage.
Counties that saw significant increases from the previous year’s sales included Kittitas, Walla Walla, Skagit, Pierce and Island.
The study found that certified organic acreage dropped 12 percent to just over 90,100 acres in 2011. The number of certified organic farms dropped to 729 from 735.
Crops seeing decreasing acreage included forage, tree fruit, grains, pulses (beans, peas, lentils and other legumes) and oilseed crops. Vegetables, mixed horticulture and small fruits and nuts saw increases in acreage. (AP)
