Yields from organic farming may not match those produced by
farmers who use synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, but there
are other good reasons to buy and support organic -- its health
benefits, the good that it does for farm workers, even its
animal-welfare rules. So, at least, say executives of the
Organic Trade Association, a Washington-based group that
represents about 6,500 organic farmers, producers, retailers and
suppliers. "Yield is only one window into organic farming," says
Laura Batcha, executive vice president of the trade group.
Organic farming is "good for the environment. It's good for
local economies. It's good for the farmer incomes." A 2008 USDA
survey of organic production found that organic farms had
average annual sales of $217,675, compared to the $134,807
average for U.S. farms overall. Overall, the U.S. organic
industry, including fiber as well as food, generated about $31
billion in 2011, up from just $1 billion in 1990. Despite the
U.S.'s sluggish economy, organic food and farming