The Western Producer has been publishing my monthly column for 10 years now, so it is a good time to reflect.
Organics has come a long way since then, perhaps the furthest in public perception. Celebrity endorsements have encouraged consumers to take a look and they have seen the benefits in reducing their exposure to pesticides and genetically modified organisms by eating organic food.
The Canada Organic Trade Association (COTA) estimates that the organic consumer market in Canada grew 160 percent from 2006 to 2010. Canada is the fifth largest organic market in the world.
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Much of the Canadian organic market is filled by imports, which represents a tremendous opportunity for Canadian growers.
Of course, it’s the global market that concerns producers most on the Prairies.
Canadian organic products sell primarily into the U.S. and European markets, which are valued at $59 billion per year. Canadian organic exports are valued at $400 million per year.
Market volatility for organic exports has been a mixed blessing. Organic prices have spiked high at times, and producers with the right organic crops have done well.
However, those times have been followed by crashes, with buyers turning from prairie organic products to crops such as flax from China or the ambiguous “natural” products.
These highs and lows are expected in small markets. They add risk, but savvy producers can do well.
