New study measures where organic agriculture is most deeply rooted
Organic farming continues to grow across the United States, but the states producing the most organic food are not always the places where organic agriculture has the strongest presence according to Escoffier Global Research Analysis and USDA Certified Organic Survey Data.
The new analysis examined organic farming activity using data from the USDA Certified Organic Survey, U.S. Census Bureau, and state population records. Instead of measuring only total sales, the study looked at how deeply organic agriculture is integrated into each state's farmland and economy.
Researchers created an Organic Footprint Intensity Score based on three factors: the share of farmland that is certified organic, organic acres as a percentage of total state land, and organic production value per acre.
Using this method, Vermont earned the highest score in the nation with 81.07 points. Pennsylvania ranked second, followed by New York, California, and Georgia.
The findings show that states can achieve high rankings in different ways. Some states, including Vermont, Maine, and New York, rank highly because a large portion of their farmland is organic. Others, such as Georgia, Washington, and North Carolina, perform well because organic farms generate strong sales from relatively small acreages.
Vermont stands far ahead of the competition. Nearly 17% of its farmland is certified organic, compared to about 1% nationally. The state also dedicates more of its total land area to organic farming than any other state.
California remains the country's largest organic producer by total sales. Organic farms in the state generated approximately $3.55 billion in sales, accounting for nearly one-third of all U.S. organic sales. However, because organic farmland makes up a smaller share of California's overall agricultural land compared to Vermont, California ranked fourth in the intensity study.
Pennsylvania and New York also performed strongly because of their combination of organic acreage and production value. Georgia ranked fifth, demonstrating how high-value products can create a significant organic footprint even when organic farmland covers a smaller area.
The report also highlighted the difference between organic intensity and production scale. While California, Washington, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Oregon generated the highest sales, they did not always receive the highest intensity scores.
Another important finding involves production value per acre. Georgia led the nation with nearly $11,800 in organic sales per acre. Pennsylvania, Washington, New Jersey, and North Carolina also ranked among the top states for value generated from organic farmland.
These results show that crop selection plays an important role. States producing fruits, vegetables, poultry, greenhouse products, and specialty crops often generate higher returns per acre than states focused on hay, pastureland, or large field crops.
The study also examined certified organic farms relative to population. Vermont again ranked first, with 107 certified organic farms per 100,000 residents. Maine, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Montana rounded out the top five.
Researchers noted that certified operations were the focus of the study. Smaller farms with annual organic sales below certification requirements may not be included, meaning actual organic farm numbers could be higher.
Overall, the rankings highlight the many ways organic agriculture contributes to state economies. California remains the national leader in production volume, while Vermont demonstrates the strongest integration of organic farming into its landscape and agricultural sector.
The results provide a broader picture of organic agriculture in America, showing that success can be measured not only by production totals but also by how deeply organic practices are embedded within local farming communities.
Photo Credit: USDA-organic