The USDA says 18,513 farms and businesses are now certified under the National Organic Program which is an increase of 763 from the year before. The figure is up nearly 250% since 2002 which was the first year of the program. The cost of certification is a problem for some organic producers as is all the paperwork involved, but the administration says they are working to address those. For more information, please CLICK HERE.
Growing Pains for National Organic Program
For information about the USDA National Organic Program, please CLICK HERE or HERE.