Organic agriculture has seen tremendous growth since the National Organic Program (NOP) was implemented in 2002. According to the Organic Trade Association, organic is the fastest growing agricultural sector, seeing an average of 9% annual growth between 2010 and 2019. In 2020, despite economic impacts of COVID-19, organic sales reached $61.9 billion, a 12.4% increase over 2019 sales. Kentucky has seen similar increases in demand. The USDA-NASS 2019 Organic Survey showed organic sales in Kentucky rising 46.4% from $26.3 million in 2016 to $38.50 million in 2019. To meet growing demand, Kentucky has also seen growth in organic production, going from 107 organic farms in 2014 to over 240 in 2021, according to Organic Association of Kentucky (OAK). However, consulting USDA-NASS yielded no information on certified organic operations owned by Black or minority farmers. We were unable to anecdotally confirm any Black-owned organic farms in Kentucky through communications with OAK, Kentucky Department of Agriculture, and Kentucky State University Extension. We are also unaware of any Black or minority organic inspectors operating in Kentucky. The Union of Concerned Scientists recently highlighted that the number of Black farmers in the U.S. is dropping at a faster rate than farmers overall. In Kentucky only about 0.6% of all Kentucky farms are Black owned. Organic farming represents an opportunity for minority farmers to participate in a growing market while garnering higher farm profits. Organic inspection is an overlooked career path and bringing diversity into the ranks of inspectors may help bring more diversity into the ranks of organic farmers. Allen (2010) and Pilgeram (2012) point out social and economic barriers to minority participation in sustainable farming initiatives in the U.S., but there is little information on specific barriers in Kentucky that make minority participation in organic agriculture difficult.

One anecdotal barrier is that minority stakeholders do not see other participants in organic production who "look like us".  In order to generate additional interest among KSU stakeholders we need to be able to highlight examples of others who have made the transition into organic production, however as noted above, as of this writing there is not a single certified organic operation owned by a black farmer in Kentucky.  We have reached out to several farmers including Dr. Nancy Dawson in Russellville and Mr. Jim Colemean in Lexington.  Both are black producers interested in organic production.  At the time of this writing Mr. Coleman has hosted a farm visit by myself (Dr Shawn Lucas).  I facilitated Mr.Coleman's connection with the Organic Association of Kentucky  (OAK) and joined an OAK transition trainer at Coleman Crest Fam.  We met with Jim and farm manager (Mr. Grant Wallace) and evaluated farm operational practices with respect to organic.  While not certified organic, Coleman Crest Farm is currently operating using methods and practices that are compliant with the National Organic Program.  Mr. Coleman has verbally committed to certifying  his operation and has held a second meeting with the OAK transition trainer to start his organic systems plan and application for organic certification.  Further, he wants to work with KSU going forward to help bring other minority and underrepresented stakeholders into organic agriculture