The organic comeback starts here: OCO gets to the root
Submitted by Organic Council of Ontario (OCO)
For years, the Organic Council of Ontario (OCO) has been a vital advocate for organic farmers, building public trust, promoting transition, and advancing sustainable agriculture. But despite these efforts, the organic movement in Ontario is facing a troubling trend: fewer farmers are staying certified organic. Even with rising climate concern, consumer demand isn’t keeping pace with supply.
In response, OCO is evolving. “While we have always worked across the value chain—not just with farmers—we’re placing renewed focus on growing demand by helping consumers better understand, trust, and access organic food. But we’re not stopping there.”
The truth is: the organic promise is being lost in a sea of greenwashed labels and confusing claims. Farmers continue to uphold Canada’s rigorous organic standards that not only promote environmental sustainability, animal welfare, and soil health, but also allow us to trade with regions like Europe that expect the highest levels of integrity in organic products. Yet too often, these efforts go unrewarded.
As inflation tightens household budgets, organic is getting edged out of the grocery basket. For some farmers, staying certified no longer feels worth the cost, and neither does maintaining climate-conscious practices.
OCO believes that reversing this trend starts with restoring public confidence and increasing awareness of what organic really means. That’s why OCO is launching new efforts to grow demand—by educating consumers; supporting organic supply chains; and making the value of organic food clear, credible, and accessible.
“By helping more Ontarians choose organic, we aim to create a ripple effect: increased demand leads to more stable markets that give farmers the confidence and resources to stay organic, support biodiversity, protect ecosystem health, and contribute to a more resilient food system. It’s a cycle we must restore, for us and future generations.”
This isn’t a shift away from farmers; it’s a deeper commitment to the entire organic community. What’s on your plate matters. It’s more than a meal and a budget—it’s about your health, your community, and the planet. “At OCO, we believe the future of organic starts with reconnection, and it starts with you.”