Growing up, I was raised on organic food. I can vividly recall my mom's phone calls to the "natural food store" in Oakland, California, inquiring about the availability of organic produce. This was the early 2000s when organic products were a rare find.  

My mother made the switch to organic produce when my brother was diagnosed with leukemia. While my brother underwent rounds of chemotherapy, my mother strongly believed organic foods were the best option for her son, even though some questioned and dismissed her approach as too holistic.  

Today, I find myself working on organic production issues, advocating for the very suppliers who provided my mom with organic produce then and continue to do so now. What was once dismissed as a trend for “granola” or idealistic consumers has evolved into a thriving and impactful industry that is reshaping American agriculture and the economy. 

Organic farmers are running thriving businesses, providing employment to local communities, and making substantial contributions to the economy. With annual sales surpassing the $50 billion mark, organic agriculture has firmly proven itself on the national stage.

Moreover, organic farming has consistently ranked among the fastest-growing segments of U.S. agriculture for over two decades. Fresh fruits and vegetables have been the highest-performing commodities on that list year after year. In 2023 alone, retail sales of organic fresh fruits and vegetables reached an estimated $8 billion, showcasing a consistent upward trend over the past two decades. 

Despite this growing impact, many policymakers downplay or do not understand the significance of organic production, pigeonholing it as a niche market catering to a select few.  The reality is that the organic movement has transformed into a major player in the marketplace. The organic sector deserves to be taken as seriously by Congress and regulators as it is by consumers.  

To sustain this growth, existing programs and processes must be modernized to support the industry and meet the demands of consumers. With the ongoing farm bill negotiations, lawmakers have a unique opportunity empower the growth of organic agriculture, ensuring that Americans have access to organic products in every state and district.  

Among the many improvements that could support specialty crops in the Farm Bill, two bills focus on the needs of the organic sector.  Both the Continuous Improvement and Accountability in Organic Standard Act (CIAO) and the Strengthening Organic Agriculture Research Act (SOAR) of 2024 would immediately strengthen the organic sector and would create value for both specialty crops and the farm economy.   

Every dollar invested in agriculture research brings $20 back into the economy. The SOAR Act would solidify funding and resources for organic research including the Organic Research and Extension Initiative at the USDA.  Ensuring research keeps up with the constantly evolving science of growing practices is critical to better production, better policies and better regulatory schemes.   

Organic is the promise to consumers that organic standards have been met.  However, there is no official process in place to update and routinely review these standards. The CIAO Act would do just this by establishing a process for USDA to solicit input every 5 years about what – if any – standards need updating, and then to partner with the National Organic Standards Board to make recommendations for taking regulatory action.  

The organic revolution is not a trend; it is an important opportunity for producers and transformative force in the marketplace that deserves support in the next farm bill. Farmers want better research and modern regulations, consumers like my mother want products that that meet their demands on taste, variety and sustainability: organic production can meet that demand if given the opportunity. 

Sara Neagu-Reed is the director of production and environmental policy at the International Fresh Produce Association.