Overview
The vast majority of organic commodities pass through the hands of at least one middleman, also called a handler, on the way from the farmer to the consumer. Certified organic handlers are certified to handle organic products in accordance with National Organic Standards. Organic handlers perform numerous functions, including
packing and shipping, manufacturing and processing, and brokering, wholesaling, or distributing.
The ERS organic handler database contains select results from the 2004 and 2007 Nationwide Surveys of Organic Manufacturers, Processors, and Distributors, administered by Washington State University, Social and Economic Sciences Research Center and funded by USDA's Risk Management Agency. The surveys covered a variety of topics related to the procurement and contracting of organic products and ingredients. Data are available on 9 commodity groups, such as fruit and nuts, and 45 commodities, such as berries and citrus. The procurement data include information from 1,038 facilities in 2004 and 1,013 facilities in 2007; the contracts data include information from 686 facilities in 2004 and 620 facilities in 2007 that use contracts.
Data
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Procurement Data
An interactive dataset that provides information about the procurement practices of organic handlers. Search by commodity or location (national, region, and State) for 2007 or 2004. Find details about basic characteristics of organic handlers, their purchasing characteristics, and information about their relationship with suppliers, including important supplier attributes. |
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Contract Data
An interactive dataset that provides information about use of written and verbal contracts between organic handlers and their suppliers. Search by commodity for 2007 or 2004. Find out about common contract provisions such as compensation methods and pricing mechanisms. |
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List of Data Tables
Procurement data tables are listed by year, commodity group and commodity, and by region and State. Contract data tables are listed by year and commodity group and commodity. |
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Related Links
ERS Organic Agriculture Briefing Room—U.S. producers are turning to certified organic farming systems as a potential way to lower input costs, decrease reliance on nonrenewable resources, capture high-value markets and premium prices, and boost farm income.
The U.S. Organic Handling Sector in 2004: Baseline Findings of the Nationwide Survey of Organic Manufacturers, Processors, and Distributors—This May 2008 report presents findings from the 2004 survey and presents a baseline of their marketing and procurement practices in 2004.
Using Vertically Coordinated Relationships to Overcome Tight Supply in the Organic Market—An October 2008 report discusses results from the 2004 survey that indicate handlers widely use contracts as a means to not only procure needed ingredients but also to develop and maintain strong working relationships with their suppliers.
ERS Organic Prices—Farmgate and wholesale prices for select organic and conventional produce and poultry items.
USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service, National Organic Program—National standards that govern the marketing of organically produced agricultural products.
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