U.S.: Organic Cotton Gains Ground
1 January 2008 The survey, which included organic cotton farmers from California, Arizona, Missouri, New Mexico, Tennessee and Texas, showed that farmers of organic cotton (including both organic upland and pima cotton) not only increased planted areas, but also project continued growth in organic cotton acreage in 2008, with as much as 883 acres more to be planted with organic cotton over 2007.
Farmers harvested 8,116 bales of organic cotton in 2006, down 16% from 2005, when 9,630 bales were harvested. Weather and limited irrigation resources were the primary factors in this drop, according to the survey.
Prices also increased for organic upland cotton from 2005 to 2006, with the average price per pound ranging from $0.85 to $1.25 (USD) for in 2006. In 2005, the same type of cotton was priced between $.80 and $1.05 per pound. Organic pima cotton ranged in price from $1.65 to $2.09 per pound in 2006.
More information on the survey or the Organic Trade Association can be found at the OTA web site or at OTA’s consumer web site, www.theorganicreport.org.
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