USA: Obama administration praises organic industry

While the USA still faces its worst economic situation since the Great Depression, the Obama Administration acknowledges that the organic agriculture and trade industry helps to improve the situation in the country, Whole Foods Magazine reports. The Council of Economic Advisers, the White House Rural Council and the USDA (Department of Agriculture in the USA) released a report on 11 June 2012, commending the industry on its success.

It emphasises the huge contributions of the organic industry within agricultural economy and its part in expanding opportunities for agricultural production in the USA. The full report is available for download here: http://www.whitehouse.gov

These are also two major points to highlight in the upcoming Farm Bill season, which is up for renewal in 2013. The organic industry grew by 9.5 % overall in 2011 to reach US$ 31.4 billion in sales (close to 25 billion euros). The number of organic operations grew by 6 % from 2009 to 2011. An earlier report by OTA has revealed that the sector has created more than 500,000 jobs in 2010.
 

Whole Foods Magazine