Press Releases

Organic Trade Association statement on Federal Funding Freeze

icardozo — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 22:16:00 +0000

MEDIA STATEMENT

Maggie McNeil

mmcneil@ota.com

(202) 615-7997

(

January 29, 2025

) —

The Organic Trade Association (OTA), our business members, and the nonprofits with whom we work are deeply concerned with the January 27th OMB memorandum on the “Temporary Pause of Agency Grant, Loan, and Other Financial Assistance Programs” and any associated communication post-recissions of the broad freezing of funds for already obligated federal grants. Many farms and businesses have already spent dollars and are awaiting reimbursement from these government programs. Farm businesses and organizations have made financial decisions, signed contracts, and otherwise obligated themselves and exposed themselves to financial risk based on the belief that they had a legal and binding agreement with the federal government. Funds must be dispersed for any grants or contracts that have already been executed with American businesses.

Within our membership, there are awardees for grants for on-farm infrastructure or equipment, expanding manufacturing capacity, technical assistance to farmers, dairy business innovation, and overseas market development. A pause for any length of would be extremely challenging and disrupt investments for American farms, rural communities, and businesses. We urge Congress to work with the administration to quickly resolve the confusion and broad blanketing of such important investments in American agriculture.

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About the Organic Trade Association

The Organic Trade Association (OTA) is the membership-based business association for organic agriculture and products in North America. OTA is the leading voice for the organic trade in the United States, representing organic businesses and producers across the nation. Its members include growers, shippers, processors, certifiers, farmers' associations, distributors, importers, exporters, consultants, brands. retailers and others. OTA's mission is to promote and protect ORGANIC with a unifying voice that serves and engages its diverse members from farm to marketplace.

Organic Trade Association welcomes new vice presidents to leadership team

icardozo — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 14:55:03 +0000

Accomplished experts in organic, government advocacy will bolster OTA efforts

Maggie McNeil

mmcneil@ota.com

(

January 13, 2025

) —

Washington, D.C. — The Organic Trade Association is pleased to announce the expansion of its leadership team with the hiring of two new vice presidents in key strategic and growth roles. Joining the association as Vice President of Government Affairs is Ivanna Yang, and as Vice President of Industry Relations is Matt Landi.

Yang will spearhead OTA’s legislative advocacy efforts in achieving organic priorities in appropriations, the farm bill, and tax and trade policies. She will work with OTA’s DC coalition partners and other agriculture associations, as well as with lawmakers and policy makers to advance and grow organic agriculture.

Yang is an accomplished government affairs manager and coalition builder on both the state and federal level. She most recently led the government affairs program for Geno, a leader in the technology of replacing fossil fuels with plant-based feedstocks to accelerate the transition to sustainable materials. Yang has been at the forefront of successful and innovative manufacturing and consumer protection campaigns at every level of government.

“I look forward to working with the new Congress and Administration to ensure that the organic industry and our members have a seat at the table and a hand in crafting legislation to strengthen and transform our food systems. As an avid consumer of organic products, I am thrilled to represent an industry that touches many of our lives every day,” said Yang.

As Vice President of Industry Relations, Landi will lead a department that includes membership engagement, events, and membership-related communications and marketing. This will include the team that guides OTA’s sector councils such as Produce, Fiber, Dairy, Grains, Dietary Supplements, and Wine, with a new Poultry Council on the way.

Landi brings to his new position over two decades in the organic food and agricultural trade in a number of different leadership roles in California, the Pacific Northwest and New England. His career has included stints in retail, wholesale distribution, international trade and more recently leading a regional start up brand in Vermont. Landi has also served as board chair for OMRI (Organic Materials Review Institute) and board president for the SFTA (Sustainable Food Trade Association).

"I’m grateful to have found purposeful and fulfilling livelihood in advancing organic agriculture over the last 20+ years and am honored to take on this new role as part of the amazing OTA team. There's no place I'd rather put my energy than working on behalf of the organic trade, and I look forward to serving our incredible community of members and stakeholders,” said Landi.

“Bringing these two outstanding and experienced individuals into our leadership team will greatly enhance our work to advocate for organic farmers and businesses, and to better serve our members. We are thrilled to have Ivanna and Matt on our team,” said Matthew Dillon, Co-CEO of OTA.

“Organic is facing many challenges and also opportunities in the coming years. Ivanna’s and Matt’s expertise, along with their proven commitment to organic, will help us meet those challenges and take advantage of the opportunities. The OTA team has never been stronger,” said Tom Chapman, Co-CEO of OTA.

The Organic Trade Association is the leading voice for the organic trade in the United States, representing organic businesses and producers across the nation. Its members include growers, shippers, processors, certifiers, farmers' associations, distributors, importers, exporters, consultants, brands. retailers and others.

Organic Trade Association statement on USDA’s Market Development for Mushrooms and Pet Food Final Rule

icardozo — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:48:21 +0000

MEDIA STATEMENT

Maggie McNeil

mmcneil@ota.com

(202) 615-7997

(

December 23, 2024

) —

The Organic Trade Association (OTA) applauds the U.S. Department of Agriculture (ISDA) National Organic Program (NOP) for finalizing the Market Development for Mushrooms and Pet Food rule. OTA supports the development of market opportunities for organic producers, and this final rule aligns directly with our mission to grow the industry. This final rule addresses the unique aspects of mushroom and pet food with the introduction of specific standards and resolves uncertainty and inconsistency in the certification of these product categories.

While targeted at expanding the mushroom and pet food categories, this rule also opens opportunities for ingredient suppliers to these categories. For example, with the clarification that organic livestock off-cuts may now be included in a high-quality organic pet food diet, organic livestock producers are presented with a market opportunity and potential price premium.

OTA has long advocated for clear practice standards to support consistency in production, a fair playing field in the marketplace, and a commonly understood definition of organic by the consumer. Publication of this final rule draws on four National Organic Standards Board recommendations dating to 1995 and builds on OTA’s successful advocacy and engagement in moving these backlogged recommendations forward. Keeping USDA organic regulations current and reflective of consumer expectations is essential to maintaining trust and value in the organic label.

With a compliance date of February 2027, the industry has a two-year period to adjust and implement the requirements of this final rule. OTA will use this time to focus on providing the support and resources needed to its members to ensure successful compliance with this significant new rule.

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Organic Trade Association welcomes USDA support for organic dairies

icardozo — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 16:56:42 +0000

Maggie McNeil

mmcneil@ota.com

(

September 26, 2024

) —

Washington, D.C. — The Organic Trade Association welcomes the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s continuing support for organic dairy farmers through the Organic Dairy Market Assistance Program (ODMAP). Today’s announcement by USDA that it is making available $58 million in assistance funds to U.S. organic dairies is good news for organic operations, particularly small- and medium-sized operations, who are dealing with sharply increased operating and marketing costs, and organic commodities in short supply.

OTA also commends USDA for making notable improvements for farmers applying for ODMAP assistance. USDA is using organic-specific pricing to make their financial assistance calculations, which will result in more realistic aid levels for organic dairy operators. The agency has increased its payment rate to $1.68 per cwt from last year’s rate of $1.10 and will provide coverage for 9 million pounds of milk per operation, compared to 5 million pounds in 2023.

“We applaud USDA for recognizing the unique production and marketing expenses of organic farming and using data from its National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) on organic milk costs to raise the pay price to $1.68,” said Tom Chapman, Co-CEO for OTA. “This targeted support acknowledges organic’s distinct cost structures and will help strengthen American organic dairy farms.”

Organic dairy operators also welcomed the announcement, saying the financial assistance is critical to struggling organic dairy farmers and processors.

“USDA’s Organic Dairy Marketing Assistance Program is stemming the loss of organic dairy farms in the U.S. by helping farmers regain financial stability following the recent and unprecedented period of extremely high animal feed costs,” said Joseph Button, Vice President of Sustainability & Strategic Impact at Strauss Family Creamery, a family-owned dairy in California. “As organic dairy farmers and processors work to adapt to extreme weather challenges and general inflationary pressures, this critical financial assistance from USDA affirms the importance of the organic dairy sector and the nutrient-dense foods it provides for our communities across the U.S.”

“These resources will make a difference for hundreds of organic dairy farmers in rural communities across the U.S.” said dairy farmer David Hardy of Mohawk, New York, who serves as board chair for Organic Valley dairy cooperative which has over 1,400 organic dairy farm-owners. “There have been a lot of organic dairy farmers who have faced horrific drought and weather conditions this past year, and USDA is right to offer this relief to help offset some of those losses. I know a lot of family farms in our membership that are going to use these funds to buy organic feed and pay off outstanding bills. It can’t come soon enough.”

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About the Organic Trade Association

The Organic Trade Association (OTA) is the membership-based business association for organic agriculture and products in North America. OTA is the leading voice for the organic trade in the United States, representing more than 500 organic businesses across 50 states and 9,500 farmers through its Farmers Advisory Council. Its members include growers, shippers, processors, certifiers, farmers' associations, distributors, importers, exporters, consultants, retailers and others. OTA's Board of Directors is democratically elected by its members. OTA's mission is to promote and protect ORGANIC with a unifying voice that serves and engages its diverse members from farm to marketplace.

Organic Trade Association celebrates Organic Month

nseifu — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 17:39:51 +0000

September marks annual world-wide recognition of organic's benefits

Maggie McNeil

mmcneil@ota.com

(

September 3, 2024

) —

An organic grains farm in Montana offering first-of-a-kind Community Supported Stewardship Agriculture shares to support organic farm practices, a sustainable fashion company producing Billie Eilish T-shirts made from organic cotton being sold in Target stores nationwide, a leading organic certifier launching a financial assistance program that offsets certification costs, an organic granola maker in Canada partnering with food banks to develop organic granola available at cost to customers.

These are just a few of the creative and transformative organic initiatives underway by members of the Organic Trade Association (OTA) that the association is showcasing in its celebration of Organic Month in September. In its encompassing month-long campaign, OTA will share the stories of its organic champion members, highlight the benefits of choosing organic and raise awareness about organic agriculture.

“Organic month is a fantastic opportunity to promote the benefits and importance of organic farming and products, and to celebrate our commitment and dedication to organic,” said OTA Co-CEO Matthew Dillon. “We have a host of activities and outreach planned for our members and for any consumer who wants to support a movement that prioritizes health, environmental sustainability and ethical practices.”

“Our campaign encourages consumers to support organic products by highlighting their benefits for personal health, eco-friendly agriculture, and animal welfare,” said OTA Co-CEO Tom Chapman. “We want to inspire more people to choose organic, and in doing so, join our efforts to expand organic agriculture and organic production, and to make healthy, clean organic food accessible to all.”

The trade association is kicking off a social media campaign to highlight the innovative programs and practices underway by its members to increase organic production and boost the availability of organic to consumers. The association will be publishing newsletters throughout the month featuring organic initiatives and developments, and is making available to the public its deep library of organic resources, educational guides and promotional toolkits.

The U.S. organic market is now a nearly $70 billion market, posting a new record in dollar sales in 2023, according to OTA’s 2024 Organic Industry Survey. Organic sales have doubled over the past ten years, and organic food now accounts for six percent of the nation’s total retail food sales. The organic seal has stayed a stand-out with consumers, reflecting a growing consumer focus on personal and family health, sustainability, and a desire for clean products free from antibiotics, hormones, preservatives and dyes.

For more information on OTA’s activities during Organic Month, go here: https://www.ota.com/resources/organic-month

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About the Organic Trade Association

The Organic Trade Association (OTA) is the membership-based business association for organic agriculture and products in North America. OTA is the leading voice for the organic trade in the United States, representing more than 500 organic businesses across 50 states and 9,500 farmers through its Farmers Advisory Council. Its members include growers, shippers, processors, certifiers, farmers' associations, distributors, importers, exporters, consultants, retailers and others. OTA's Board of Directors is democratically elected by its members. OTA's mission is to promote and protect ORGANIC with a unifying voice that serves and engages its diverse members from farm to marketplace.

Organic Trade Association Co-CEO to help kick off Newtopia Now debut

vbatcha — Mon, 19 Aug 2024 16:44:05 +0000

Matthew Dillon will share insights on how retailers can be champions of organic

Irene Cardozo

icardozo@ota.com

(202) 524-3892

(

August 19, 2024

) —

The Organic Trade Association is pleased to announce that Co-CEO Matthew Dillon will be participating in the first-ever Newtopia Now organic and natural trade show in Denver later this month.

Dillon will explore the ways retailers can effectively champion organic and eco-friendly farming and packaging practices, and help educate their customers on the importance of a sustainable food system. Participating in a panel discussion for the Cultivating Change: Retail Practices for Supporting Sustainable Brands & Agriculture session on August 26, Dillon and other experts will look at best practices for partnering with brands that prioritize regenerative agriculture, organic farming, and sustainable packaging, and how retailers can translate these practices into clear messaging that resonates with their customers.

“The Organic Trade Association is thrilled to be a part of this next-generation trade show, and to be participating in this important discussion to advance organic and eco-friendly agriculture,” said Dillon. “Retailers play a huge role in our buying decisions, and we make some of our most important decisions in the aisles of our grocery stores – whether it is a local grocer, major supermarket chain or big box store, that’s where we decide what we’re feeding our families.”

He continued: “The more food shoppers understand how critical it is to support organically and sustainably produced products, the more those products will end up in shopping carts and on the dinner table.”

Newtopia Now, sponsored by New Hope Network, celebrates retailers as one of the key foundations of the organic and natural products industry. Replacing the former Natural Products Expo East trade show, the brand-new event has been designed to best serve the diverse needs of retailers in what is an increasingly competitive marketplace. It offers myriad opportunities for meaningful connections with brands and other vital stakeholders, and showcases the most forward-thinking innovation in the industry today.

The Organic Trade Association will have a booth at the show to discuss all things organic. Attending media are invited to stop by the OTA booth (#3012) to meet with OTA staff.

Media availability opportunities for OTA Co-CEO: For media interested in connecting with Matthew Dillon at Newtopia Now, contact Irene Cardozo at icardozo@ota.com.

Organic Trade Association wins $2.5 million to open untapped export markets

nseifu — Tue, 21 May 2024 19:22:24 +0000

Award included in first tranche of USDA's new Regional Agricultural Promotion Program

Maggie McNeil

mmcneil@ota.com

(202) 615-7997

(

May 21, 2024

) —

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Organic Trade Association (OTA) is pleased to announce it has been awarded $2.5 million to open and develop untapped export markets for U.S. organic products through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s new Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP).

The award will help fund market development activities over a 5-year period from June 1, 2024, to September 30, 2029. The activities will focus on boosting U.S. organic exports to Southeast Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean -- areas beyond the U.S.’s traditional top customers of Canada, Mexico, the European Union and China.

“Consumer and trade promotional activities historically funded by USDA’s Market Access Program (MAP) and Agricultural Trade Promotion (ATP) program have been key to opening foreign markets to U.S. organic exports and creating trust in the USDA Organic seal globally. With the allocation of $2.5 million from RAPP funding, the trade association is excited to further develop and expand our global consumer and trade promotional activities,” said Sarah Gorman, Manager of International Trade for OTA.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced this week the first $300 million tranche of the RAPP awards. In a press call with Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Vilsack said the investment underscores USDA’s commitment to addressing challenges related to creating new and better markets for American farmers.

“Given the rising demand for organic products globally, and especially in Latin America and Southeast Asia, this additional funding offers a significant opportunity for U.S. organic exporters to explore and enter developing markets, driving growth for American organic farmers and industry while contributing to healthier, more sustainable food systems in the region,” said Tom Chapman, co-CEO for the trade association.

USDA launched the $1.2 billion RAPP in 2023 in response to a bipartisan request from the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee. RAPP’s aim is to diversify and expand market opportunities for U.S. food and agricultural products into new markets in parts of the world where the middle class is growing and the desire for high-quality food and farm products is increasing.

OTA market development activities will include designing consumer-focused retail and educational campaigns that highlight the health benefits of organic foods and the quality of USDA-certified organic products, participating in trade shows and organizing trade missions in the targeted countries, and conducting market research to fully understand the preferences of consumers and better position U.S. organic for success in those markets.

OTA has represented the U.S. organic sector in USDA’s market development programs for more than 20 years, most recently receiving more than a million dollars in funding from USDA’s MAP to promote U.S. organic products around the world in 2024. OTA’s member companies provide the bulk of all U.S. organic exports. The market promotion activities administered by the association are open to the entire organic industry, however, not just members. For more information or to sign up for activities, visit OTA’s website.

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About the Organic Trade Association

The Organic Trade Association (OTA) is the membership-based business association for organic agriculture and products in North America. OTA is the leading voice for the organic trade in the United States, representing more than 500 organic businesses across 50 states and 9,500 farmers through its Farmers Advisory Council. Its members include growers, shippers, processors, certifiers, farmers' associations, distributors, importers, exporters, consultants, retailers and others. OTA's Board of Directors is democratically elected by its members. OTA's mission is to promote and protect ORGANIC with a unifying voice that serves and engages its diverse members from farm to marketplace.

Organic Trade Association, The Organic Center awarded USDA Market Development Grant

nseifu — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 16:33:54 +0000

$4 million-plus project over 3 years to grow organic markets

Maggie McNeil

mmcneil@ota.com

(202) 615-7997

(

May 15, 2024

) —

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Organic Trade Association (OTA) and The Organic Center are pleased to be the recipients of $2.2 million in Organic Market Development Grant (OMDG) matching funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to expand organic markets through consumer education and promotion. The funds provided by USDA match those provided by the OTA, The Organic Center and Organic Voices for a three-year project totaling $4.4 million.

The joint project by the trade association and The Organic Center is designed to stimulate the demand for and increase the sales of organic products by promoting the science-backed benefits of USDA certified organic products and farming to consumers. The project will be done in collaboration with Organic Voices and an Industry Advisory Committee.

“We thank USDA for making this project possible with this important funding. Consumers lack information about all that the USDA Organic label stands for and all the benefits it delivers for human health, the environment, and businesses,” said OTA co-CEO Tom Chapman. “Our project aims to increase the consumption of organic by giving consumers access to more credible information about what organic production and processing means, and the advantages it provides.”

“We want to educate people about the difference organic makes, and inspire them to choose organic,” said Dr. Amber Sciligo, Director of Science Programs for The Organic Center. “This project will highlight organics’ ability to protect natural resources, sequester carbon and regenerate soil health, while also providing nutritional benefits and protecting us from synthetic pesticides, preservatives, antibiotics and more. The more educated consumers are about organic, the more likely they will seek out that Organic label.”

The project will develop fresh creative content on the regulatory and science-based environmental, animal and human benefits of organic, focusing on targeted information to motivate consumers to purchase organic products, prioritizing organic dairy, grain and fiber. A full-scale integrated marketing campaign will be launched, and particular focus will be made to ensure that the promotion reaches beyond mainstream organic markets into regions and communities where organic production is not prevalent.

The project will culminate with a final comprehensive report on effective organic consumer marketing strategies, content, and messaging which will be shared with the entire organic industry through the distribution of printed copies of the report, and availability through social media channels.

“The longevity of this project will extend far beyond its 3-year timeframe,” said OTA co-CEO Matthew Dillon. “The creation of valuable educational content and marketing resources will continue to benefit organic producers and brands, while the consumer promotion and education campaign will yield a lasting impact by expanding the community of informed organic consumers to create a growing and stable market for organic.”

The Organic Market Development Grant Program is part of the USDA Organic Transition Initiative, a $300-million initiative launched in 2022, to help existing organic farmers and those transitioning to organic production and processing.

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About the Organic Trade Association

The Organic Trade Association (OTA) is the membership-based business association for organic agriculture and products in North America. OTA is the leading voice for the organic trade in the United States, representing over 10,000 organic businesses across 50 states. Its members include growers, shippers, processors, certifiers, farmers' associations, distributors, importers, exporters, consultants, retailers and others. OTA's Board of Directors is democratically elected by its members. OTA's mission is to promote and protect ORGANIC with a unifying voice that serves and engages its diverse members from farm to marketplace.

About The Organic Center

The Organic Center is a nonprofit research and education organization whose mission is to convene credible, evidence-based science on the health and environmental impacts of organic food and farming and to communicate the findings to the public. The Center works to fill critical industry knowledge gaps by managing research projects and providing tools and training to help organic farmers and businesses thrive. Its research projects focus on climate change mitigation and environmental health, human health, and building tools and solutions to support organic operations. The Center operates under the administrative auspices of the Organic Trade Association.

About Organic Voices

Organic Voices is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to help consumers better appreciate and eliminate confusion about all the benefits of Organic. It is dedicated to educating consumers about the significance of the USDA Organic seal, ROC certification, and GOTS certification through its Only Organic campaign. It creates compelling educational content tailored to inform and engage consumers, using multiple online channels to reach new audiences through large-scale consumer-facing campaigns. Partnering with brands, retailers, farmers, and consumers, Organic Voices strives to amplify the message of the benefits of organic and establish a unified voice throughout the organic industry.

US organic marketplace posts record sales in 2023

nseifu — Fri, 10 May 2024 21:54:44 +0000

Organic Trade Association pegs sales of organic products near $70 billion

Maggie McNeil

mmcneil@ota.com

(202) 615-7997

(

May 14, 2024

) —

Washington, D.C. — U.S. sales of certified organic products approached $70 billion in 2023, a new record for the sector. Dollar sales for the American organic marketplace hit $69.7 billion last year, up 3.4 percent, according to the 2024 Organic Industry Survey released Tuesday by the Organic Trade Association (OTA).

Despite stubborn price inflation seen throughout retail aisles, consumers remained clear-eyed about their priorities in the products they chose for themselves and their families, valuing health and sustainability, and seeking out the USDA Organic label. The organic marketplace recalibrated its supply chain and reconciled the cost of doing business in part with increased retail pricing. The industry continued to grow, with organic food sales in 2023 totaling $63.8 billion and sales of organic non-food products totaling $5.9 billion.

“It is encouraging to see that organic is growing at basically the same rate as the total market. In the face of inflation and considering organic is already seen as a premium category, the current growth shows that consumers continue to choose organic amidst economic challenges and price increases. Although organic is now a maturing sector in the marketplace, we still have plenty of room to grow,” says Tom Chapman, co-CEO of OTA.

Matthew Dillon, co-CEO of OTA, adds that to achieve this growth, “It is essential to educate consumers that choosing organic is a straightforward way to tackle some of the greatest challenges we face. Whether it's accessing healthy foods, improving transparency in supply chains, mitigating climate change, supporting rural economic resilience, protecting natural resources, or realizing the multitude of other benefits, effectively communicating and delivering on these promises is the key to expanding organic’s share of our dinner plate.”

In 2023, the increase in dollar sales in the organic market was driven more by pricing than unit sales. But that said, consumers boosted their purchases of many organic products. Increases in unit sales were reported for up to 40 percent of the products tracked in this year’s survey. The survey also showed that prices for many non-organic products climbed at a faster rate than organic products. This means the price gap between conventional and organic is closing, which should help fuel growth for organic products in 2024.

The top organic sellers

Produce held its spot as the largest organic category in 2023, continuing to be the primary entry point for consumers into the organic market. Organic produce meets the consumer’s desire for clean, healthy food, and the importance of organic’s critical benefit of no toxic synthetic pesticides is easy to grasp when buying organic berries or carrots. In 2023, the category grew by 2.6 percent to $20.5 billion. Organic produce now accounts for more than 15 percent of total U.S. fruit and vegetable sales. Top sellers in the organic produce section were avocadoes, berries, apples, carrots, and packaged salads, and organic bananas saw stronger growth in 2023 than non-organic bananas.

The second biggest-selling food category in the organic aisles was the grocery category with sales of $15.4 billion for a 4.1 percent growth. This new category represents many of the products previously grouped under breads and grains, condiments, and packaged and prepared foods. With 21 different subcategories, close to 40 percent of the sales in the grocery category were driven by the top three performers —in-store bakery and fresh breads with sales of $3.1 billion for a gain of almost 3 percent, dry breakfast goods up around 8 percent to $1.8 billion in sales, and baby food and formula at $1.5 billion for a hefty gain of nearly 11 percent.

Beverages were the third largest category for organic in 2023, posting $9.4 billion in sales, up 3.9 percent. As always, this category was a driver of innovation with functional beverages, whether for enhanced hydration or mental focus, playing a prominent role. 2023 also saw a surge in new organic non-alcoholic beverages and mocktails. On the flipside, organic wine sales were up 2.5 percent to $377 million, and organic liquor and cocktails, while still the smallest sector of beverages at $59 million, posted over 13 percent growth.

Organic dairy and eggs, the fourth-largest category in the organic food market is another entry point for consumers who want clean, ethical sources of protein with lower environmental impacts. In 2023, organic dairy and egg sales were up 5.5 percent, reaching $8.2 billion. Organic dairy and eggs now account for over 8 percent of all dairy and egg sales. Milk and cream sales were up almost 5 percent to $4.2 billion, and the organic dairy alternative category grew almost 14 percent in 2023 to around $700 million.

The rate of growth in the sales of the organic non-food categories was mixed. Personal care products saw the strongest growth in 2023 with sales reaching $1.3 billion up almost 7 percent, and sales of organic supplements were up over 4 percent to $2.1 billion. Organic fiber continues to be the largest segment of the U.S. organic non-food products, representing 40 percent of the category’s sales in 2023 of around $2.4 billion. Sales for organic fiber were essentially flat year-over-year, not due to lack of buyer interest but restricted more by supply chain issues.

Organic remains a stand-out in a growing sea of labels

The number of claims and labels continued to expand in the retail aisles in 2023, but the organic seal stayed a stand-out with consumers. A growing consumer focus on personal and family health, sustainability, and a desire for clean products free from antibiotics, hormones, preservatives, and dyes kept shoppers turning to organic. More consumers are aware of the potential health benefits associated with organic foods, and many consumers, especially the Gen Z generation, are increasingly conscious of the ethical implications of their food choices and are looking for products that align with their values, such as animal welfare, fair trade, and support for organic farmers.

Research is showing a consistent and growing interest in organic from Millennials and Gen Z. These generations grew up with organic and sustainability, and the health of people and planet, are all top-of-mind for these consumers. Industry experts see this as an opportunity for organic, with the sector well positioned to meet the product attributes and values sought by consumers today and for future generations. By 2030, the U.S. population will consist of a majority driven by Millennial, Gen Z and younger generations.

But the future for organic is not without its challenges. The latest term adding confusion to the marketplace is “regenerative.” While regenerative labels are not necessarily top of mind for consumers yet, the attributes they claim to represent include soil health, animal and human welfare, and biodiversity -- attributes already embodied by the USDA Organic seal. As new certifications develop around regenerative agriculture, there is concern of consumer confusion, making it all the more important to elevate organic education.

Methodology

This year’s survey was conducted early in 2024 and was produced on behalf of the Organic Trade Association by Nutrition Business Journal (NBJ). Numerous data sources were compiled to create as complete a picture as possible of the organic industry which consists largely of private companies. Inputs include but are not limited to point-of-sale data, expert interviews, annual report data, and in-depth direct survey data. Roughly 65 companies completed a significant portion of the in-depth survey.

In an effort to better represent how products are marketed within the grocery aisles, newly arranged organic product categories are being presented in the 2024 report. Shelf stable and fresh products that have traditionally been part of the packaged and prepared foods, breads and grains, and condiments category are now largely part of the new grocery category. Fresh produce, the largest organic subcategory, is now a full-fledged category of its own, as frozen and canned produce is now in the grocery category.

Executive summaries of the survey are available to the media upon request. The full report can be purchased; online orders can be placed on this page.

The 2024 OTA Organic Industry Survey is available in full as a benefit to association members.

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About the Organic Trade Association

The Organic Trade Association (OTA) is the membership-based business association for organic agriculture and products in North America. OTA is the leading voice for the organic trade in the United States, representing more than 500 organic businesses across 50 states and 9,500 farmers through its Farmers Advisory Council. Its members include growers, shippers, processors, certifiers, farmers' associations, distributors, importers, exporters, consultants, retailers and others. OTA's Board of Directors is democratically elected by its members. OTA's mission is to promote and protect ORGANIC with a unifying voice that serves and engages its diverse members from farm to marketplace.

Organic Trade Association announces annual leadership award winners

nseifu — Mon, 06 May 2024 15:19:22 +0000

Organic leaders and champions to be honored at Organic Week

Maggie McNeil

mmcneil@ota.com

(

May 7, 2024

) —

The Organic Trade Association is thrilled to recognize six individuals for their outstanding leadership, vision and commitment in advancing the organic movement and making a positive difference on their farms, in their communities, in our climate and environment, and in the lives and diets of millions of people throughout the world.

The trade association will honor these exemplary men and women with its 2024 Organic Leadership Awards at an official reception on May 14, the opening day of Organic Week (May 14-16) in Washington, D.C. OTA’s leadership awards were established in 1997, and since then OTA annually recognizes a group of exceptional individuals who have been nominated by their peers and chosen unanimously by the association’s Board of Directors.

The distinguished 2024 Organic Leadership Award Honorees are:

Organic Lifetime Achievement: George Siemon of Organic Valley
Organic Champion: The Honorable Jenny Lester Moffitt of the U.S. Department of Agriculture
Organic Groundbreaker: Mac Ehrhardt of Albert Lea Seed
Organic Farmer of the Year: Larry Santos of Taylor Farming
Organic Climate Action: Renaud des Rosiers of Amy's Kitchen
Social Impact: Jyoti Stephens of Nature’s Path

Organic Lifetime Achievement

This award is reserved to recognize decades of extraordinary commitment by an individual to the organic industry. The well-deserving recipient of the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award is George Siemon, the founding CEO of CROPP, the largest organic farmer-owned cooperative in North America, better known as Organic Valley, its bestselling brand.

In 1988, at the peak of the U.S. farm crisis of the ‘80s, Siemon united a small group of organic family farmers in Southwest Wisconsin to found a new farmer-owned cooperative with a focus on organic agriculture and the mission of keeping famers on their land. Siemon led the co-op for some 30 years as CEO of Organic Valley | CROPP Cooperative, building the business to over $1 billion in sales and over 2,000 farmer members. True to its roots, Organic Valley is still promoting regional and local organic production and distribution that provides a livelihood for thousands of family farmers and brings organic food to millions of consumers around the world.

He has contributed countless hours and attention to leading organic-centric legislative campaigns, securing research and education resources for the trade, and being a mentor for hundreds of not only aspiring organic farmers but business leaders and activists throughout the organic community. George Siemon was the face and voice of the small farm organic movement for over three decades – a straightforward approachable CEO and go-to spokesperson for the industry.

“I have been blessed to have been a part of pioneering the organic trade, and being part of such meaningful work,” says Siemon. “It is a great honor to receive this recognition, and I am humbled knowing how many other people have contributed so greatly to the organic movement. Organic has not only built a great selection of organic products but also has pioneered better methods of production. We can be the change that society needs.”

Organic Champion

The Organic Trade Association’s Organic Champion Award recognizes and honors individuals in government who have been supportive of organic agriculture and trade. The esteemed honoree this year is Jenny Lester Moffitt, USDA’s Under Secretary of Marketing and Regulatory Programs, who has worked effectively within the organic community to encourage the sector’s input and consider organic priorities.

Under Secretary Moffitt grew up on a California Walnut Farm that transitioned to organic in 1989. She worked for the California Department of Food and Agriculture for many years, including serving as Under Secretary from 2018-21. She has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to addressing the challenges faced by organic farmers and producers. Her on-the-farm experience and leadership in both state and federal government have helped build partnerships to strengthen organic agriculture.

At USDA, Under Secretary Moffitt’s dedicated, knowledgeable, and compassionate leadership has fostered historic support for the National Organic Program, including the Transition to Organic Partnership Program and Organic Market Development Grants, as well as helped enable three key regulatory updates – Origin of Livestock, Organic Livestock and Poultry Standards and Strengthening of Organic Enforcement.

“As someone who grew up and worked on my family’s organic farm, this award means so much to me. I am honored to be recognized by the Organic Trade Association for the work I’ve done supporting organic agriculture and truly humbled by this acknowledgement,” says Under Secretary Moffitt. “I am proud of our efforts at USDA to advance organic integrity by strengthening organic standards and growing the organic sector through the Organic Transition Initiative. This award is a symbol of the great work we can do when government and the organic community come together.”

Organic Groundbreaker

The Organic Groundbreaker Leadership Award honors trade association members who have dedicated their careers to advancing organic agriculture and trade by providing vision, innovative creations and solutions, and the work and leadership that makes dreams a reality. This year’s winner, Mac Ehrhardt, chairman of Albert Lea Seed – inspired by his family’s love of nature – recognized the promise of organic agriculture more then 30 years ago and, working with his brother Tom, led the transformation of his granddad and dad’s seed company into the nation’s largest organic field seed supplier.

Founded in 1923 by Lou Ehrhardt, the Minnesota-based Albert Lea Seed has been owned and operated by the Ehrhardt family for three generations, earning its first USDA organic certification in 1996. In 2022, the company purchased Blue River Organic Seed, to form the strongest lineup of organic field seed in the U.S. In 2023 Ehrhardt spearheaded another initiative aimed at serving organic farmers by investing in an independent corn breeding program focused on the needs of organic farms.

“I believe that the demand for organically raised food will continue to grow,” says Ehrhardt. “But we must actively work to encourage that growth by strengthening consumer confidence in the Organic label; addressing the issue of gene-editing from both a scientific and a consumer perspective; and reducing the carbon footprint of organic farming practices.”

Ehrhardt’s advice to future organic groundbreakers: “Work hard. Be nice to people. Keep an open mind. Be honest and own your mistakes. And to steal a line from Practical Farmers of Iowa, ‘Make your experiments small enough that you can afford to fail.’”

Organic Farmer of the Year

The Organic Farmer of the Year Leadership Award honors individuals who have significantly contributed to supporting and advancing organic agriculture and trade at the farm level. Receiving that honor this year is Larry Santos, Senior Farm Manager for Taylor Farming, grower and supplier of vegetables to Taylor Farms and Earthbound Farm (owned by Taylor Farms). Santos successfully oversees 3,000 organic acres, working with four experienced organic farm managers to produce more than 30 different vegetable and high-quality tender leaf crops in the Salinas Valley.

Santos’s deep farming roots date back to when he was a young teenager in South Monterey County of California, and his involvement in organic farming to 1995 when organic was still a trendy niche and organic farming a relatively unknown practice. Santos was in his early 20s and working on a piece of land in the Salinas Valley that had not been farmed for 15 years; he encouraged his boss to give this “new, experimental” growing method a try, and the farm was transitioned to certified organic by 1998. What started as 200 acres is now a bountiful 600-acre organic farm and one of the most productive organic farms in the Valley. Santos still manages that farm, planting three crop rotations per year and producing 1,800 organic crop-acres a year from the 600 acres. Santos also helps educate the local school kids on how to grow healthy organic vegetables; he works with his community's elementary school in an after-school program in which 14 students are each tending their own organic garden box and growing organic spinach, broccoli, radishes and more.

“Trust and integrity are crucial to the success of organic. We’re only using this earth for a little while, so we want to make sure it’s there for the next generation,” says Santos. “Organic is the safest thing for our planet today and a way to give back. We have to give back to our soil to protect it for our children and their children's children. Plus organic is the tastiest produce you can buy!”

Santos is optimistic about organic: “I see more non-organic farmers adopting more organic methods, and I see a really big demand for organic with future generations. I believe as people get more educated about environmental issues and organic's benefits, there will be more pressure for organic."

Organic Climate Action

The Organic Climate Action Leadership Award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exemplary leadership in advancing organic solutions to mitigate climate change. This year’s award goes to Renaud des Rosiers, Director of Sustainability for Amy’s Kitchen, who committed early on in his career to strive towards a sustainable world through the power of business and has for almost a decade directed sustainability efforts for Amy’s, the largest provider of organic prepared foods in the nation.

For the past 20 years, des Rosiers has been working within the organic industry helping companies implement sustainability and climate strategies. Through his work on sustainable supply chains and packaging at Amy’s, Renaud has worked collaboratively with a broad group of organic companies over the years to broaden the collective understanding of sustainability issues in the organic sector. He is active in advocacy and policy work to drive the development of biobased compostable materials as an alternative to conventional fossil plastic packaging and has created a replicable framework for smaller organic companies to cost effectively bring renewable energy into their supply chains.

“Overhauling the modern food system for the better is a foundational element of our transition to a sustainable future, and the organic movement has done more to drive that transition than any other idea,” says des Rosiers.

des Rosiers sees an important role for organic in the future: “Impact is driven by scale and I look forward to an increased role for organic—one that meets evolving social needs, adapts to scientific advances, and unlocks broader markets while staying grounded in its core principles—to inspire the next generation of farmers and be accessible to an ever wider group of eaters.”

Social Impact

The Social Impact Leadership Award honors individuals who have made outstanding efforts to be a source of positivity and stability for customers and organic community members. The winner of this year’s award is Jyoti Stephens, Vice President of Mission and Strategy for Nature’s Path, who grew up listening to her parents – organic pioneers Arran and Ratan Stephens and founders of Nature’s Path – talk about the importance of growing food the healthy way and of contributing to the betterment of our communities and our planet.

Stephens has launched and oversees multiple initiatives at Nature’s Path to make organic food more accessible to more people. She oversees the Gardens for Good program, which, since its beginning in 2010, has donated more than $500,000 and supported over 60 community organic garden projects to nourish local communities, and the Eat Well Do Good initiative, which provides healthy, organic food to those in need through annual community “foodraisers,” raising over $2.8 million in cash and organic food to date. Her team coordinates the Love Crunch Bite4Bite program, which donates a minimum of $2 million worth of organic food to food banks annually. Stephens is the executive sponsor of Nature’s Path Sustainability and Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (J.E.D.I.) mission and is leading the development of goals around culture, consumers, and community to embed J.E.D.I. across the business.

“This amazing award is not just for me but for the foundational legacy of sustainability and organic advocacy that my family and the team members at Nature’s Path have built and pursued over the last 40 years,” says Stephen. “It serves as a reminder of the positive impact we can have when we hold ourselves accountable to a collective sense of responsibility.”

Her advice for individuals and businesses wanting to make a positive impact: “Start with a clear vision and values, build alliances, share knowledge, and engage with your community,” she says. “And never underestimate the importance of perseverance. Despite the challenges, resilience and dedication can lead to meaningful change to create a more just and equitable food movement.”

Press Releases

Organic Trade Association statement on Federal Funding Freeze

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Organic Trade Association welcomes new vice presidents to leadership team

Accomplished experts in organic, government advocacy will bolster OTA efforts

Organic Trade Association statement on USDA’s Market Development for Mushrooms and Pet Food Final Rule

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Organic Trade Association welcomes USDA support for organic dairies

Organic Trade Association celebrates Organic Month

September marks annual world-wide recognition of organic's benefits

Organic Trade Association Co-CEO to help kick off Newtopia Now debut

Matthew Dillon will share insights on how retailers can be champions of organic

Organic Trade Association wins $2.5 million to open untapped export markets

Award included in first tranche of USDA's new Regional Agricultural Promotion Program

Organic Trade Association, The Organic Center awarded USDA Market Development Grant

$4 million-plus project over 3 years to grow organic markets

US organic marketplace posts record sales in 2023

Organic Trade Association pegs sales of organic products near $70 billion

Organic Trade Association announces annual leadership award winners

Organic leaders and champions to be honored at Organic Week

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