Like anyone in farming right now, organic farmers in Washington state are feeling the pinch of rising input and labor costs. According to a top advocate for organic agriculture in Washington, broader market access and easing regulatory pressures could be critical to the survival of many organic growers here.
With high standards and stricter limits on allowable products and inputs, organic farms have been particularly vulnerable to recent cost increases. Organic farming often requires more labor, as well, and labor costs in Washington have been skyrocketing. Competition for workers in other economic sectors and state regulations have driven up not only wages but also the overall costs associated with maintaining employees.
Melissa Spear, Executive Director of Seattle-based Tilth Alliance and an outspoken advocate for organic agriculture across the state, said that giving organic farmers the ability to sell their products into more markets is important for growers to weather the ongoing inflationary storm.
“I’m hearing from so many farmers, and also from other organizations and agencies that we work with that talk to farmers, that this moment in time is particularly challenging,” Spear said on a recent episode of The Farming Show. “There are a lot of farmers who are talking about getting out at this point, and not just the small farmers.”
Institutional food purchases, such as those made by schools or hospitals, is one of the markets Spear said has been a challenge for organic farmers to access, and federal and state budget cuts are making that even harder. Another major hurdle, especially for smaller farms, are the extensive requirements surrounding organic certification. This is an area, Spear said, where regulators could work to simplify the process to help organic growers.
Another barrier, particularly for small and mid-sized farms, is the complexity and cost of organic certification. While Spear supports a strong certification system to prevent fraud, ensuring that only truly organic food earns the premium price, she believes regulators could do more to simplify the process for smaller producers selling at farmers’ markets.
“Maybe it should be simpler for those smaller farms, low risk farms, to achieve certification,” said Spear. “That is an area where simplification might be helpful.”
Unfortunately, federal cuts and the reorganization of the United States Department of Agriculture have created more uncertainty and could mean less support for organic farming. “The National Organic Program has lost 30 percent of its staff so far, and these are the USDA staff that really manage the certification process for organic farmers and provide support in the organic sector,” Spear said.
Despite the current challenges in expanding market access in the face of high costs, Spear said, Washington remains a powerhouse in organic agriculture. The state ranks number two in the nation for overall organic production, and leads the nation in organic apples, pears, cherries and other organically-grown fruits. Spear says demand for organic food continues to grow. “Consumer interest in organic has really increased,” she said. “People are very concerned about their health, and are perceiving that organic is a healthier choice.”
Still, without stronger market access and more reasonable regulations, many of Washington’s organic farms could find it increasingly difficult to survive.