Maine farmers need more support than ever
Sales of Maine organic products grew 67% between 2007 and 2022, contributing $74 million in economic impact to the state in 2022, according to a new report by the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA). The report, “Maine Organic Agriculture from 2007-2022: Size, Economic Impact, Farmer Goals, and Financial Sustainability,” details the nuance in how markets and farming trends have shifted over the 15-year study period. Both a summary and the full report are available on MOFGA’s website. Additionally, MOFGA will host a webinar on August 5 from 12 noon to 1 p.m. to share the findings with the broader community. Details can be found on MOFGA’s website.
Using a combination of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) data and farmer surveys, the report findings show that while the number of certified organic farms decreased, the average sales per certified farm went up, suggesting that certified farms are making more income per farm. The data also indicate that trends vary by sector, but overall sales of Maine-grown certified organic products per year grew from $33 million to $50 million by 2022.
Though sales are strong, the need to support small- and mid-scale farmers is more important than ever. According to the report, Maine’s organic farmers are still struggling with financial sustainability, a major challenge that could be one contributing factor to the overall decrease in certified organic farms.
“Farmers overwhelmingly said in the surveys that they want to stay in farming,” says Sarah Alexander, MOFGA’s executive director. “They want to diversify their production and increase farm income. That won’t happen without the necessary technical and financial assistance offered by local organizations like MOFGA, as well as critical programming funded by the federal government.”
Recent cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in the reconciliation bill approved by Congress remove $240 billion dollars that supported the food insecure and farmers through local food purchasing programs. For vegetable farmers, whose SNAP sales average 10-50% of total sales at participating farmers’ markets, the cuts threaten farm viability. Additional cuts to the Organic Certification Cost Share program and technical assistance for transitioning to organic certification will also make it more challenging for many farmers to become certified or maintain certification.
In addition to supporting all farmers interested in organic practices, whether certified or not, offering a diversity of farmer resources (including MOFGA Certification Services; technical assistance; beginning farmer programming; and marketing resources, including farm financial video tutorials), MOFGA has a robust policy platform that promotes legislation critical to organic farmers.
“Farming is a critical part of the economy in Maine and we have to continue to invest in our farms and food system in order for these businesses to succeed,” says Alexander.
