Supply and Market Analysis for Organic Producers in the Four Corners States

View the project final report

• 2005 annual report

Commodities

Practices

• Education and Training: extension
• Farm Business Management: market study

Certified organic producers in the Four Corners States of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah want to be part of healthy food enterprises that benefit local (within the respective state) and regional (including neighboring states) economies. But connecting the links in the organic marketing chain across the wide-open spaces that separate producers and consumers in this region has not been easy.
This project grew from a desire on the part of organic industry members, educational
and governmental institutions, and non-profit organizations to foster the development of a strong market for organic products in the Four Corners States and provides a better understanding of the opportunities for and barriers to a larger, more vibrant organic food market in the Four Corners States. Understanding the organic market, including the demand for and supply of organic products in the Four Corners States, was accomplished through a four-stage research program consisting of: a comprehensive
literature search; a survey of the certified organic producers for 2005 from the Four Corners States; a series of interviews with experts in the four states; and three carefully-selected case studies of notable businesses.

The project had the following three objectives:

Objective 1: To better understand current and potential future regional organic markets through a comprehensive market supply analysis.

Objective 2: To identify specific market opportunities for organic and “organic-interested” producers in the Four Corners States and develop solutions to overcome barriers that exist in their markets.

Objective 3: To communicate findings to organic and organic-interested producers, and to extension agents, industry members, and non-profit organizations.