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Organic group send petition to federal government

Feds asked to establish policies and programs to help organic producers meet consumer demand, create sustainable food systems

The petition says that Canadian consumers are driving strong demand for organic food, and asks the federal government to establish policies and programs to “encourage growth in the domestic supply of organic to meet the market opportunity,” and to “meaningfully recognize and incentivize sustainable resilient food systems, such as organic, across all departments that relate to Canadian food policy.”

A CHFA survey revealed the value placed by consumers on an “organic” label has faltered in recent years.

Inflation remains top of mind for organic marketers

Organic produce sales in the U.S. declined in 2022 as consumers cut costs

Rising food prices are one of several factors creating turbulence in the organic marketplace. But, as attendees at the recent virtual segment of the 2023 Guelph Organic Conference learned, inflation will likely remain top of mind in 2023. For the first time in more than a decade of monitoring the U.S. marketplace, analyst Tom Barnes […] Read more

The general manager of a pulse processing plant in Saskatchewan predicts “stability” in organic markets for 2023.  Photo: Getty Images

Webinar reveals thoughts on present, future of organic markets

MarketsFarm – Ten representatives from companies buying or producing organic crops took part in a webinar discussing the markets for those crops hosted by SaskOrganics on Oct. 27. The marketing webinars, which are held bi-annually before spring seeding and after harvest, are designed to connect organic grain buyers and producers as well as provide information […] Read more

The EU’s CAP plans support the transition to sustainable agriculture, and one key target is to have one-quarter of the EU’s farmland certified organic by 2030.

European Union forges on with organics amid food insecurity worries

Critics question wisdom of plan to certify one-quarter of farmland organic by 2030 as demand for more food increases

Glacier FarmMedia – The rubber is hitting the road on the European Union’s drive toward vastly increased organic crop production. The European Commission has approved the first slate of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) strategic plans submitted by seven member states. The plans submitted by Denmark, Spain, Finland, France, Ireland, Poland and Portugal will guide agricultural […] Read more

Sales topped $6.5 billion in 2020, a 33 per cent increase over 2017 levels, according to a report published by the Canada Organic Trade Association.

Demand booms for organic foods

Consumers with more disposable income boosted organic purchases during pandemic

Glacier FarmMedia – Demand for organic food and beverages is booming in Canada, according to a newly released study. Sales topped $6.5 billion in 2020, a 33 per cent increase over 2017 levels, according to a report published by the Canada Organic Trade Association (COTA). The 2017 figures represent the last time the group published its […] Read more


Organic growers get funds to identify supply chain barriers

The federal government recently invested more than $640,000 in the Canadian Organic Growers (COG) to help get more Canadian consumers buying Canadian-made organics produced locally by Canadian organic farmers. The announcement was made at Chelsea Market, during Canada’s National Organic Week, an annual event to showcase and celebrate organic food farming and products across the […] Read more

Brendan Grant and Marcelle Paulin farm in northern Ontario with their baby, Lowell Grant.

Northern Ontario farm serves local market

A farm near Thunder Bay supplies people with vegetables through a community-supported program

Glacier FarmMedia – What kind of crazy people would set up a vegetable farm from scratch outside Thunder Bay, Ont.? Two southern Ontarians with no agriculture education or background, that’s who. Why it matters: Innovative approaches and young farmers with fresh ideas can give agriculture a healthy spark and are vital to the continued sustainability […] Read more

Studies have shown millennial consumers are also more likely to spend more of their food dollar eating out. They support more artisanal and organic options as well.

Comment: Farmers as price makers instead of price takers

When their buyer said their produce was too expensive, this farm business changed the conversation

Farmers are conditioned to see themselves as price-takers. They take the price that is charged for their fertilizer and seed and they take the price that’s offered for their production. But as one of the speakers at the recent Summit on Climate Action in Food Systems in Kelowna illustrated, it’s possible to overcome the “lowest […] Read more


britain meat case

Editorial: Lessons from the European market

There are opportunities in Europe for Canadian agriculture and food products, but we have to learn to play their game if we want a piece of the lucrative export market. I recently spent a couple of weeks in Europe visiting relatives and travelling with family. When travelling we make our own meals when we can, […] Read more

Organic soybeans are mostly moving around the world for animal feed.

Replacing U.S. imports of organic soybeans unlikely

The rapid growth of U.S. organic livestock production has resulted in massive imports of soymeal

American organic soybean imports, especially as meal, continue to dwarf import of other organic crops. In fact, if American farmers tried to grow that many soybeans to make into meal, it could disrupt the whole organic system, says Ryan Koory, senior analyst with Mercaris, an American organic market intelligence company. Why it matters: Organic production […] Read more