Canada Organic Farmers’ Production Down; Market Up
- Lindsey Loring
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
Demand for organic foods in Canada has never been higher – but Canadian farms are struggling to keep up. Recent industry reports show that consumption of organic goods climbed over 8% last year, as Canadians spent $9.75 billion on organic products in 2024. Organic foods, beverages and household items are increasingly mainstream, found in big-box grocery stores and local markets alike. This surge in consumer appetite reflects growing awareness of health, sustainability and food quality.
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However, on the production side, there’s a concerning trend: the number of Canadian organic farms and processors actually declined for the first time in years. Over 100 organic producers may have exited the industry in 2024. In short, organic consumption is up, but domestic production is down, meaning Canada is importing more organic goods to fill the gap.
Why the drop in organic producers? Challenges in the sector include the labour- and management-intensive nature of organic farming and the financial risk of the three-year transition period required to certify a farm as organic. Many farmers find it daunting to forego conventional crop revenue for several years while converting to organic practices.
Additionally, 2024 saw high input costs and some tough weather that hit all farmers – factors that can hit smaller organic operations hardest. The result is that some organic grain and vegetable growers chose to revert to conventional farming or retire, even as consumers are clamouring for more Canadian-grown organic options.
Industry leaders, like the Canada Organic Trade Association (COTA), are advocating for more support to reverse this trend. They’re pushing for government programs to help new organic farmers get through the transition period and to improve market data for organics. The goal is to ensure Canadian organic farms can capture more of the booming local demand, rather than seeing imports take over.
For Canadian consumers and farmers, there are some bright spots. Large grocery retailers report that organic produce, dairy and meats continue to gain shelf space as sales grow. This “vote with your wallet” trend sends a strong signal to the industry. Some provinces are responding—for instance, organic grain research and knowledge-transfer programs are expanding on the Prairies to help conventional grain farmers adopt organic techniques more successfully.
There’s also growth in small-scale urban and peri-urban organic farms, plus increased interest in regenerative agriculture practices that overlap with organic principles. All of this innovation aims to boost domestic organic output in the coming years.
At Future Ag, we support farmers of all stripes – conventional or organic. Many of the farm equipment solutions we offer can benefit organic producers looking to improve efficiency and yields without synthetic inputs. For example, precision seeders and inter-row cultivators (available through our Case IH and Kubota equipment lines) help manage weeds mechanically and optimize plant populations, critical for organic field crops.
Tools like high-efficiency sprayers can be used to apply natural bio-pesticides or foliar feeds precisely, reducing waste of often-expensive organic-approved inputs. We’ve also heard from organic market gardeners who love Echo equipment – such as low-emission chain saws and brushcutters – for maintaining shelterbelts and controlling vegetation without chemicals. As organic demand grows, Future Ag is here to ensure those pursuing organic farming have access to the compact tractors, implements, and support they need to thrive.