Tuesday Trends sample: Organic food rising, Great Wolf Resorts mixed and mining bill falling

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RISING

Organic food: Sales of organic food continue to rise despite the economic downturn — a trend that bodes well for Wisconsin, which has experienced dramatic growth in that sector since the enactment of the National Organic Program in 2002. A new report from UW-Madison on organic agriculture in the state report finds Wisconsin has approximately 1,200 organic farms — up about 60 percent from 2005 — and leads the nation in the number of organic dairy farms. Milk accounts for about two-thirds of the value of the state’s organic farm product sales, while 23 percent come from crops — including nurseries and greenhouses — and another 13 percent came from livestock and poultry and related products. While organic products still claim a relatively small share of the U.S. food dollar, that share is growing, the report notes. Nationally, the U.S. organic food and beverage industry grew at a rate of 7.7 percent in 2010, while total U.S. food sales were all but flat. A 2011 survey by the Organic Trade Association found that more than three-quarters of U.S. families purchased organic food.

MIXED

Great Wolf Resorts: The Madison-based resort company reports a loss in both the fourth quarter of 2011 and for the full year, but that those losses were cut in half compared to the same timeframes in the previous year. The company, which owns 11 indoor waterpark resorts nationwide, reported a $14.4 million net loss in the fourth quarter, down from a $29.2 million loss in the previous fourth quarter; for the full year period, the loss dropped from $51 million in 2010 to $25.7 million last year. Revenue grew slightly in the last quarter over the previous fourth quarter — rising from $62.6 million to $65.5 million — while annual revenue rose from $276 million in 2010 to $296.7 million last year.

FALLING

Mining bill: Legislative Republicans made passing a bill to ease the process for siting a new iron mine in northern Wisconsin a major goal for the 2011-2012 session. But with just days remaining before lawmakers adjourn for the year, significant work still remains before the bill can move forward. Efforts are underway to bridge the gap between GOP state Sen. Dale Schultz and Assembly Republicans, with each considering the other’s version unacceptable. Observers say other Senate Republicans have qualms with the Assembly bill, but when push comes to shove, they’d probably vote for the bill on the floor. Schultz, however, has said he won’t support the Assembly bill and is sticking to his guns amid criticism from mining supporters. Meanwhile, some complain that Gogebic Taconite, the company backing the mine in Iron and Ashland counties, hasn’t gained the trust of lawmakers and question the vague answers given at a public hearing — particularly over the potential use of out-of-state contractors at its proposed mine. Still, observers expect some sort of compromise before legislators head home to face voters either in recall elections or in the fall general election.