Organic Fresh Produce Grows and Farmland Ownership Evolving

**For the second quarter in a row, organic fresh produce grew slightly in year-over-year sales and volume in the third quarter of 2023, according to the Organic Produce Network.

Overall, organic fresh produce dollar sales and volume rose by 2% and 1.9%, respectively, compared to the same time last year.

Tom Barnes, CEO of Category Partners, says it reflects the continued consumer interest in healthier and sustainable food choices.

**The landscape of land ownership has evolved over the past 25 years as a generational transfer of ownership takes place.

A Farmers National Company report says a strong ag economy has driven the market higher for several years.

One constant is the fact that they aren’t making more land available.

FNC says the U.S. loses an average of 1.8 million acres of farmland every year, which only adds to the limited supply available.

**The John Deere Foundation announced $19 million in grants aimed at eliminating hunger by increasing access to food, helping farmers, and supporting global food systems.

The grants go to the World Food Program USA, the One Acre Fund, and the Nature Conservancy.

Deere VP and CFO, Josh Jepsen says they firmly believe the world’s farmers deserve our collective support if our goal is to realize the promise of the ‘Green Revolution.