Louisiana Organics
- Statistics and State Resources
- Certified Organic Operations in Louisiana
- Organic Producer Profiles
- Louisiana Farm Characteristics
Statistics and State Resources
Louisiana Organic Statistics
Louisiana has one of the longest operating state organic certification programs but was one of nine states that reported a decline in certified organic acreage from 1997 to 2001. USDA statistics from 1997 show 371 certified organic acres. There were 161 certified acres in 2000, which declined further to 96 acres certified in 2001 and 66 acres certi- fied in 2002.(USDA/ERS, 2002. Organic production.) The primary cause of the decline was a delay in obtaining USDA-NOP accreditation. Many smaller producers opted to drop from certification when local certification was not available. One of the largest producers obtained services from a certification agency from outside the state.
The majority of organic acreage certified in Louisiana in 2001 was “fruits, vegetables, and herbs” (73 acres, 76%), with “other crops” following (13 acres, 14%). The remaining organic acreage was divided between hay (3%) and pasture (10%). “Other croplands” include 11 acres in cultivated and wild mushrooms. One-third of total certified organic acreage was in vegetables. Fruits include citrus (15%), tree nuts (12.5%), and other fruits (11%). Blueberries are the leading “other fruit crop.” There are currently no certified organic livestock in the state. Most certified organic production is located in southern Louisiana, near larger urban areas, where there are established direct markets, including farmers’ markets, restaurants, and local grocery stores. Organic products in Louisiana include roasted coffee, brown rice crackers, flavors and syrups, stir-fry sauce, and juice. Handlers are certified by several different certifying agents, mostly from outside the state.
State Resources
- The Louisiana State Department of Agriculture and Forestry
(LDAF) is involved in several activities that assist organic producers.
Accredited certifying agent. The USDA-National Organic Program
(USDA-NOP) granted accreditation to LDAF in September, 2004.
LDAF is a certifying agent in crops, livestock, wild crops, and handling.
LDAF had certified organic operations in Louisiana for more than a
decade prior to becoming a USDA-NOP accredited certifying agent.
Contact: Harry Schexnayder, Organic Program Coordinator
225-952-8047
HSchexnayder@ldaf.state.la.us
USDA-NOP Certification Cost Share Program. The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry participates in this program, which disburses monies to certified operations in the state.
Contact: Harry Schexnayder, Organic Program Coordinator
225-925-8047
HSchexnayder@ldaf.state.la.us - Farmers’ Markets are coordinated through the Louisiana State University
Agriculture Center and Louisiana Vegetable and Fruit Growers
Association. There are 21 markets currently listed in Louisiana.
Contact: Jimmy Boudreaux, State Farmers’ Market Representative
LSU Ag Center
155 J.C. Miller Hall
Baton Rouge, LA 70803
225-578-2222
225-578-0773 FAX
JBoudreaux@agctr.lsu.edu
www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets/States/Louisiana.htm
New Orleans Farmers’ Markets
Contact: Darlene Wolnik, Associate Director
Economics Institute/Crescent City Farmers’ Market
504-861-5898
ecoinst@loyno.edu
www.crescentcityfarmersmarket.org
Baton Rouge Farmers’ Market
Contact: Copper Alvarez
Red Stick Farmers’ Market
Baton Rouge Economic and Agricultural
Development Alliance
225-267-5060
breada@earthlink.net
www.mainstreetmarketbr.com - University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Lafayette, LA.
Durga Poudel, Assistant Professor and Farm Director, organizes organic field tours and workshops and maintains a certified organic demonstration farm. His publications include “Participatory Evaluation of Organic Production Systems in Southwestern Louisiana” (PDF) (Organic Farming Research Foundation, 2003). His current research, funded by OFRF and due for publication in 2005, is evaluating weed suppression in tomatoes and sweet corn using hay mulch, plastic mulch, flaming, and mechanical cultivation.
Contact: Dr. Durga Poudel
Department of Renewable Resources
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
P.O. Box 44650
Lafayette, LA 70504
337-482-6163
ddpoudel@louisiana.edu
Colette Anzalone, Outreach Specialist, provides answers concerning production and handling of organic products.
Contact: Colette Anzalone
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
611 McKinley Dr.
Hamilton Hall, Room 127
Lafayette, LA 70504
337-482-5349
colette@louisiana.edu - Owusu Bandele, Southern University, Professor, Department
of Plant and Soil Sciences, created the demonstration organic farm “Food for Thought,” with special interest in assisting limited resource
and small-scale farmers. He is a past member of the National Organic
Standards Board, the board that advises the USDA National Organic
Program.
Contact: Dr. Owusu Bandele
Southern University Agriculture Research
and Extension Center
150 A.O. Williams Hall
P.O. Box 10010
Baton Rouge, LA 70813
225-771-2262, ext. 206
owusu_bandele@suagcenter.com - Carl E. Motsenbocker, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Horticulture,
Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, teaches
organic gardening at LSU, including organic methods, advises an organic community garden, conducts sustainable agriculture research
at the Ag Center research station, works with farmers’ markets, and is
developing an organic research program and organic extension materials
for Louisiana for publication by the LSU Ag Center.
Contact: Dr. Carl Motsenbocker
137 Julian Miller Hall
Department of Horticulture
Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, LA 70803
225-578-1036
cmots@lsu.edu or cmotsenbocker@agctr.lsu.edu