CDFA Report: California Organic Farmgate Sales Surpass $10.4 Billion

This year's California Agricultural Statistics Review, released annually by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), includes statewide organic data, an addition to the report first made last year.

According to CDFA records collected from the State Organic Program, organic farmgate sales in 2019 totaled $10.4 billion, a 3.5 percent increase over 2018 organic sales.

A closer look at the data shows that crop, feed, and fiber producers had the largest increase in sales, up 12.4 percent from 2018. Handler sales increased by only 1.5 percent between 2018 and 2019, while organic processor sales, which includes dairy and minimally processed meats, declined by 13 percent.

CDFA reported that Monterey, Santa Cruz, Kern, Los Angeles, and Merced were the top counties for organic sales in 2019. Across the state, certified organic and exempt acreage has increased to 2.6 million acres, which is 10 percent of California’s 24.3 million agricultural acres.

California organic farm sales and number of entities, 2018 and 2019.

Data and footnotes from CDFA’s California Agricultural Statistics Review 2019-2020.

¹ Producer is defined as the entity that engages in the business of growing or producing organic food, feed, or fiber.

² Handler is defined as any person or entity that packs, repacks, labels, sorts, or otherwise handles, including commission merchants, brokers, or any organic product that is outside the jurisdiction of the California Department of Public Health.

³ California Department of Food and Agriculture registers all dairy products and minimally processed meats sold in an unfrozen state, including cut, wrapped, and unseasoned only. Any processor not statutorily required to register with the California Department of Public Health shall register with the California Department of Food and Agriculture.