Introduction

The Canadian organic retail market was valued at $5.4 billion in 2017, ranking sixth in the world (Canada Organic Trade Association). Ontario is the largest provincial market, with nearly 30% market share of Canadian organic retail sales. Ontario has experienced nearly 10% annual year-over-year growth since 2012, with estimated organic retail sales at $1.6 billion in 2017. Two-thirds of Canadians are purchasing organic products weekly. Canada’s highest weekly buyers of organic groceries are millennials (83%), university graduates (78%) and families (72%). This report will present research and data on the Ontario organic consumer and retail market.

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Cost of Production for Pastured Organic Poultry

This document is part of the 2020 series of organic cost of production (COP) models prepared by the Organic Council of Ontario. This particular model focuses on the organic production of pastured poultry, specifically pastured chickens, and is based on financial data from 2018. This COP model can be adapted to determine COP for other pastured poultry production such as turkeys or ducks, however the average cost benchmarks listed in the budget are for chicken production specifically.

The objectives of this study are to:

  • assist new entrants to the organic livestock industry
  • inform conventional farmers considering the transition to certified organic production
  • and improve management practices of organic farmers by providing a benchmark compared to average industry performance