Bell & Evans, a premium poultry producer, recently finalized a long-term sourcing agreement with Cargill, one of its suppliers, to increase domestic organic grain supply and source organic grain.
Under the Bell & Evans Organic Grain Initiative, Rodale Institute, a Pennsylvania-based nonprofit organization devoted to the organic movement, will provide subsidized organic crop consulting services. Cargill will incentivize U.S. farmers who transition acreage from conventional to organic management. The initiative is the largest market-financed organic grain transition program in the world.
Over the next five years, the goal is to transition 50,000 acres of U.S. corn and soybeans to certified organic production.
“We want to establish trust, transparency, and loyalty with our grain farmers for the success and longevity of the program,” Margo Sechler, Bell & Evans executive vice president, said. “The farmer wins from this partnership, as do Bell & Evans, Cargill, Rodale Institute and all Bell & Evans customers who pay a premium for our organic chicken and can trust they are getting true organic product.”
The organic food market is a $50 billion industry, yet only one percent of total U.S. acreage is certified organic.
In 2019, national organic food sales grew 4.6 percent, according to the Organic Trade Association.