$1B organic agriculture product industry gets new brand

Listen to this article

Organic agricultural product sales have increased 47% in the last two years and now have a PA Preferred Organic brand to support them. 

Gov. Josh Shapiro signed House Bill 157 Wednesday, officially creating the brand for PA-grown organic agricultural products that tout $1.09 billion in sales annually, making the state the third in the nation.  

Pennsylvania is also one of only four states with more than 1,000 certified organic farms and ranks number one nationally in sales of organic livestock, poultry and mushrooms, the Shapiro administration said. 

Products bearing the new PA Preferred Organic label will meet both U.S. Department of Agriculture standards for organic production, and the PA Preferred program’s standards for goods grown in Pennsylvania. 

Pennsylvania’s agriculture sector is a major economic driver in the state, contributing $132 billion a year to Pennsylvania’s economy, and the Shapiro Administration said it is committed to continuing Pennsylvania’s long tradition of agricultural leadership.  

Wednesday’s announcement builds on Governor Shapiro’s investments in organic agriculture through the Pennsylvania Farm Bill and the creation of the new Organic Center of Excellence through the 2023-24 budget. 

“Products that earn the PA Preferred Organic brand will give consumers confidence they are getting a quality product that meets the high standards they expect,” Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said. “The Shapiro administration is working with the legislature to help build consumer confidence in locally grown products, so that Pennsylvania organic farmers continue to grow their businesses’ bottom lines and keep Pennsylvania on top.” 

 Bill sponsor Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, D-Luzerne, said, “Creating an easily identifiable PA Preferred Brand logo for PA-grown organic products, is a win for Pennsylvania’s farmers and producers as well as our consumers who will know that label means quality because their purchase was grown in Pennsylvania, by Pennsylvania farmers for Pennsylvania families.” 

 House Bill 157 will help Pennsylvania continue to be a national leader in organic agriculture sales, research, and farmer training thanks to the Department of Agriculture and organizations like the Rodale Institute, Pashinski said. 

“I want to thank Gov. Shapiro, his administration, my colleagues, and our staff, for their strong support of agriculture in Pennsylvania and their commitment to helping our farmers benefit from the rapidly expanding organics market,” he added. 

The budget also includes $1 million to create the first-of-its-kind Organic Center of Excellence to empower and support organic farmers and businesses, the Shapiro administration said.  

The center will support the department’s food safety lab in testing products to uphold product integrity and increase consumer confidence. The department will be recruiting an advisory board to direct the center’s work in the coming months. 

Transitioning to organic and staying certified is an investment for farmers seeking to meet the standards that earn the USDA Certified Organic seal on their products. The seal demonstrates to consumers that products are grown and processed according to rigorous, established, scientific management practices that enhance biodiversity and soil health, the administration said. 

Organic farmers and those seeking to become certified organic can find in-depth information about financial and technical assistance available for meeting standards and promoting their products through the PA Preferred Organic Initiative at agriculture.pa.gov.