PULLMAN – In one of the first comprehensive surveys of certified organic producers in Wash. WSU researchers found that producers feel they contribute more to environmental and social sustainability goals than to economic sustainability goals.While state certified organic agriculture producers said economic factors are the primary reasons that they are farming organically, they also said they feel their farms are contributing more to environmental and social sustainability goals than to economic sustainability goals.
Jessica Goldberger, assistant professor of Community and Rural Sociology at Washington State University, conducted the survey between October and December 2007.
“Organic farming continues to be one of the fastest growing segments of U.S. agriculture, and Washington has the third highest number of certified organic operations in the country,” Goldberger said. “It’s important to know the characteristics, information sources, needs, opinions and challenges of our organic producers.”
Approximately 80,000 acres in the state are certified organic, and annual organic farmgate sales exceed $144 million.
