Canada's Organic Industry at a Glance - 2009

Canadian industry facts

• Approximately 3,900 producers working on 695 thousand hectares of land produce certified organic products in Canada.
• Certified organic farms account for approximately 1.7% of the total number of farms in Canada.
• Organic livestock is one of the fastest growing sectors.
• There are about 1,200 certified organic processors and handlers in Canada, producing a wide variety of ingredients and consumer-ready products.
• A 2008 AC Nielsen study commissioned by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada revealed total annual retail sales of certified organic products in Canada are approximately $2 billion, with about 45% moving through mainstream supermarkets. In addition, fresh vegetables account for 25% of all supermarket organic food sales.

Organic exports

• Canada exports a wide selection of certified organic products, ranging from bulk grains to pre-packaged consumer-ready products in every category.
• The largest share of our exports goes to the United States, the European Union and Japan.
• As can be expected from the breadbasket of the world, organic wheat is our most popular export. However, exports of oats, flax, barley, lentils, peas, spelt, hemp, soybeans, corn, sunflowers, and other grains and oilseeds are also significant.

Organic standards

New Organic Products Regulations make certification in accordance with the National Standard for Organic Agriculture mandatory for all organic products. Canada has successfully concluded an organic equivalency agreement with the United States and the EU, and is pursuing agreements with other trading partners (for example, Japan) to facilitate the unfettered trade of organic products.