Arkansas Initiative Advances Organic Farming, Diversity

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – With U.S. organic food sales topping $63 billion last year, the Center for Arkansas Farms and Food wants to help Arkansas farmers grab a larger share of that market.

Arkansas has 107 certified organic farms, most of which are poultry or egg operations, with 19 fruit or vegetable farms, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That's an increase from 82 organic farms in 2021, as reported in the latest USDA Certified Organic Survey. However, Luke Freeman, program associate for CAFF, says there's still room for growth to meet consumer demand, especially in specialty crops.

CAFF is leading the Arkansas Organic Agriculture Project, a statewide effort to help producers transition to organic production and promote diversity within the agricultural industry.

"We're importing a significant amount of organic products that Americans consume, whereas we could be producing those products right here in the U.S. and Arkansas especially," Freeman said.

According to the Organic Trade Association, U.S. organic food sales have grown yearly since 2013, reaching $63.8 billion in 2023.

Since the Arkansas Organic Agriculture Project started in 2022, CAFF surveyed farmers in Arkansas about barriers to pursuing organic certification. They learned that weed and insect control was a key issue, as was the need to seek out-of-state organic certifiers since Arkansas doesn't have an in-state option. CAFF is working on addressing these issues with the new project and helping farmers connect with certifiers.

The Arkansas Organic Agriculture Project is part of the Transition to Organic Partnership Program, also known as TOPP, a nationwide effort funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. TOPP's primary goals are to increase certified organic acreage to meet growing consumer demand and to expand the participation of people from various racial, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds in organic farming.

Diverse partners

The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff plays a key role in this initiative, focusing on engaging these underserved producers.

"UAPB's long-standing commitment and successful track record in serving small-scale and limited-resource clientele makes the institution uniquely positioned to engage these groups in the area of organic production practices," said Shaun Francis, extension horticulture specialist at the School of Agriculture, Fisheries and Human Sciences at UAPB. "This type of initiative is very timely as it provides producers another avenue to remain competitive in the agriculture industry."

Another partner in the project is Black Women in Agriculture, an advocacy group dedicated to increasing the representation of Black women in the industry. Founder and director Kesha Cobb says these efforts are essential because organic growth is a part of the foundation of conservation.

"We want to usher in a better, more sustainable way of crop production for socially disadvantaged growers and make it plain and attainable so that we can look forward to a new day in agricultural production," she said.

The Arkansas Organic Agriculture Project offers resources, events, and opportunities in four key priority areas: organic farmer mentorship, technical assistance, community building, and workforce development.

Through mentorship, farmers transitioning to organic practices are paired with experienced organic producers who provide one-on-one guidance on production methods, marketing strategies and the certification process. Experienced organic farmers who sign up to be mentors can receive a stipend.

The project offers technical support through resources such as the Beginning Farmer classes, an online video library at CAFF, and the Arkansas Organic Network, a platform for farmers, agricultural support organizations, advisors, suppliers, and buyers to share resources and collaborate on solutions to common challenges. It includes a discussion board called the AR Farmer Exchange, where members can find work opportunities, buy and sell farm equipment and livestock, and coordinate bulk purchasing.

The workforce development component of the project includes training organic inspectors, developing practices among agriculture advisors, and providing additional training to increase the knowledge and resources available to current Arkansas organic farmers.

"Technical assistance and training in the area of organic production offers smaller producers the opportunity to utilize their existing small acreage and receive a premium price for their organic produce," said Francis. "This initiative complements other diversification efforts such as high tunnel production, micro irrigation, and use of cover crops."

Upcoming Event: Organic Farm Tour at PrairieWoods Farm

The Arkansas Organic Agriculture Project is holding an organic farm tour at PrairieWoods Farms on Aug. 25 in Sulphur Springs, Arkansas.

This free event will offer participants a firsthand look at practices and techniques used on a certified organic farm with a guided tour and discussions on managing mixed vegetables, using high tunnels and the organic certification process.

"The event provides an excellent opportunity for both current and aspiring organic farmers to learn more about organic farming practices and network with others in the field," said Freeman.

A training workshop for agriculture professionals and extension agents will also be held on Oct. 2, focusing on techniques and practices for organic weed management in specialty crops.

CAFF director Heather Friedrich leads the Arkansas Organic Agriculture project. Other key leaders in the initiative include TOPP program manager Luke Freeman and CAFF instructor Joe Hannan. Other partners include Winrock International, the Arkansas Natural Soybean and Grain Alliance and the National Center for Appropriate Technology Southeast Office.

Stay up-to-date on the Arkansas Organic Agriculture Project by signing up for the newsletter and checking out the podcast Arkansas Organic Chronicles and other resources.

About the Center for Arkansas Farms and Food: The Center for Arkansas Farms and Food trains farmers and food entrepreneurs with production, business skills and resources to help them develop businesses that sustain ecosystems, land and communities. CAFF is a program of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, the research arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. ​To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website. Follow on 𝕏 at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit uada.edu. Follow us on 𝕏 at @AgInArk. To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu.

About the Division of Agriculture: The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture's mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation's historic land grant education system. The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses. The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.