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Certified organic farming
Field crops dominate production
Fruits, vegetables and greenhouses on East and
West Coasts
Maple products dominate in Quebec
Field crops dominate production
For the first time, farmers were able to report on their
census forms that they produced certified organic commodities. (In Canada,
to become "certified organic" a farmer must apply to a recognized certification
agency. Although slightly different from province to province, organic
certification is based on the Organic Agriculture Standard put out by
the Canadian General Standards Board.)
The census enumerated 2,230 farms, or just under 1% of
the total, that produced at least one category of certified organic agricultural
products. Farmers who reported that at least some of the products on their
operation were certified organic are attempting to develop and satisfy
a niche market driven by people concerned with maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Saskatchewan had the most farms certified by an agency, with 773. Ontario
ranked second, followed by Quebec and British Columbia.
Saskatchewan has the most farms reporting organic production, 2001
Although the popular impression of organic farming probably
involves fruit and vegetable production, field crops (such as buckwheat,
rye or caraway) actually dominate. A total of 1,442 farms with certified
organic production, or almost two-thirds of such farms, grew field crops
organically. Field crops were the most common certified organic product
in four provinces: Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.
Fruits, vegetables and greenhouses on East and West
Coasts
On the other hand, vegetable, fruit or greenhouse products
were the most common product on at least three-quarters of certified organic
farms in Atlantic Canada and British Columbia.
Maple products dominate in Quebec
Quebec was more varied in its certified organic production.
About 41% of Quebec organic farms reported "other products," primarily
maple products. Vegetables, fruit and greenhouse products were a close
second, with 33.6% of certified organic farms reporting.
Certified organic animal production remains a very small
sector in Canadian agriculture. Less than one in five certified organic
farms (17%) in Canada reported animals or animal products.
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