"future hot jobs": organic farmer

Although the United States added the recent decline in unemployment, but the national unemployment rate remains high. Experts estimate that the recovery of the U.S. job market at least one to two years. Nevertheless, some work is still optimistic about employment prospects. In today's "future hot jobs" series report, we introduce you to: organic farmers.

In recent years, for health and environmental considerations, the U.S. consumer demand for organic food is increasing. According to the U.S. Organic Trade Association's statistics, in 2008, 69% of U.S. consumers bought organic food a year, then nearly thirty percent of consumers buy organic food every week.

Since the expansion of market demand, the U.S. organic farming is developing rapidly. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1997, the U.S. organic farms in the area of 134 million acres in 2005 is increased to 400 million acres. One crop area of 170 million acres of organic pasture area of 230 million acres.

Supermarkets in the United States and specializes in organic and natural food stores, organic food is usually higher than the price of similar products 30% to 100%. But, over applying fertilizer on agricultural products and meat full of antibiotics and hormones compared to many consumers still think that organic products worth the money.

More organic farms means that more organic farmers. The employment prospects of organic agriculture is very good. CNBC reported that the U.S. financial media, a management 1 1000-5 year one thousand acres of organic farmers up to $ 170,000 income, more than Americans about 4 times the average annual salary.

California-based organic farm Research Foundation (OFRF) Executive Director of the Bao Bosi examination Castro Swift (Bob Scrowcroft) on the Voice of America said:

"In 2000, the United States there are about 7 1000-7 thousand organic farmers, and now, we estimate that this figure had grown to 20,003 from 1000 to 20,005 thousand."

Industry statistics show that organic food in the U.S. food market share in 2000, when less than 1%, is now close to 4%. The industry is expected over the next 10 years, the market share of organic food will be further expanded to 10%.

Organic Farm Research Foundation Executive Director Scott Roft, said the rise of organic farming not only increases the number of farmers. Associated with a series of links along with the employment prospects are good.

He said: "organic farm services infrastructure in the ascendant, and create a lot of jobs. Now, you can in some professional course on organic agriculture and obtain degrees. U.S. organic farming in various parts of the research center. Some companies, especially large business 10 years ago identified the rise of organic agriculture and organic experiment in opening up their farm fields, now, these experiments have been extended to tens of thousands of acres of fields. These companies employ a large number of professionals, researchers pest control, land manure management, irrigation and other issues. the wages of these industries are very good. "

CNBC, the financial media reported that the annual salary range of organic agriculture in the 50 thousand to 80 thousand U.S. dollars.

From a national perspective, California is the largest acreage of organic crops, the state, the organic crop area of nearly 15 million acres. North Dakota ranks second column, the organic crop area of about 14:05 million acres. In addition, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Montana's organic agricultural production are also considerable.

U.S. organic agriculture has also led to the rise of international trade in organic products. U.S. Organic Trade Association's statistics show that agricultural products in recent years, in order to expand the supply of organic products in the United States, the United States imports of organic products continue to rise, in 2007 about 15 billion U.S. dollars. Including both fresh fruits, vegetables, and soybeans, including domestic production of organic products, such as coffee, tea, and cocoa.

Organic Farm Research Foundation Executive Director Scott Roft said the United States despite the rapid development of organic agriculture, but also faced with some very practical difficulties. Therefore, the employment prospects of the industry, there are some uncertain factors.

"For example, support the transfer of organic agriculture to the infrastructure is still not in place. You can hardly get from the government the necessary technical support. The marketing of organic crops is difficult, because we lack price data in this area. Of course, As the organic expansion of crops grown in other countries, we must now compete to and imported products. We have recently started to pay attention to the organic crops imported from China. "

Over the past 20 years, the U.S. Congress several times to pass legislation to strengthen the norms of organic agriculture, supervision, and protection. Which include the 1990 "Organic Food Production Act," 2000 "national organic standards and certification," and 2008 "food, resource protection, and energy law."