PA Preferred® Organic Program

The PA Preferred® Organic Program was created as part of the 2019 PA Farm Bill with a goal to increase market opportunities for Pennsylvania farmers and make PA the leader in organic agriculture.

Organic agriculture is an ecological production management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles, and soil biological activity. It is based on minimal use of off-farm inputs and on management practices that restore, maintain, and enhance ecological harmony (USDA National Organic Standards Board, 1995). For example, inputs such as manure and compost help build soil rich in organic matter, providing nutrients to crops and requiring less dependence on synthetic fertilizers.

Organic Certification

Transitioning to Organic

Financial Assistance

Pennsylvania consumers are increasingly interested in purchasing a greater quantity and variety of organic foods. By producing more organic products in-state, Pennsylvania farmers can meet the demands of this rapidly expanding market opportunity by diversifying their farm, generating greater income, and strengthening an already robust PA agriculture industry. With 1,055 certified organic farms and more than 93,000 acres of certified organic land in the commonwealth, PA farmers are well on their way to addressing this growing need.

According to USDA-NASS, Pennsylvania is among the Top 5 organic states in the country for:

Total Organic Sales - $707.6 million
Organic Broilers - $320.5 million
Organic Eggs - $120.4 million
Organic Mushrooms - $38.8 million
Milk from Cows - $68.9 million

For more information on the PA Preferred® Organic Program, please contact Kristen Markley, Organic Program Coordinator, by email at kmarkley@pa.gov or by phone at 717-787-6006.