OTA - Members at Work

OTA putting its words into actions to help grow organic

icardozo — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 20:09:28 +0000

October 8, 2024

The Organic Trade Association (OTA) is a longstanding advocate for increasing federal funding for organic transition to increase organic acreage and production and to strengthen the domestic supply chain. Thanks to OTA’s advocacy on Capitol Hill, along with our organic partners, we helped the growing organic industry secure the largest single investment in organic in August 2022 when the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a landmark investment of $300 million through its Organic Transition Initiative (OTI). With numerous barriers to entry for farmers to transition to organic certification, OTA applauded the commitment to improving access and opportunities for American producers.

OTA’s connection to and commitment to improving access and education for organic transition is directly connected to OTI through the launch of the Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP). As a part of its multi-agency investment in organic, the USDA announced six organizations around the United States as Regional Centers for the Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP). Within the next year, two additional National TOPP projects were announced, including OTA’s National TOPP project and the Organic Farmers Association’s National TOPP project. All eight TOPP projects collaborate with each other to support growth of the sector through education and networking.

The OTA community is playing an active role in these transformative activities, with five of the six Regional Centers being OTA members, and dozens more acting as partners within each of the six Regions.

Strengthening connections from your local community on up

Specifically, the six Regional Centers collaborate with their designated partners in their regions to best support producers, focusing their activities through technical assistance, mentorship, community building, and workforce training and development.

Each Regional Center has established dozens of partnerships with non-profit organizations, local universities and extension centers, certifying bodies, and non-governmental organizations in their regions to meet the direct needs of farmers in their local communities over the last two years. The work of the Regional Leads and their partners have strengthened connections within states and regions for networking and relationship building – all around an industry-wide commitment to organic practices while elevating the values of the organic movement collectively.

Alongside the six Regional Centers, two national-level TOPP agreements supplement and collaborate with the regional work. Organic Farmers Association was named a National Lead in 2023, collaborating with its core partners in developing a content hub of organic research resources, facilitating on-farm learning trials, offering direct farmer support, expanding farmer education through a national network, and elevating diversity, equity, and inclusion education for the industry and partners. OTA was named as the National Lead for one of these agreements in June 2023. OTA's National TOPP project provides nationally-focused market development support for transitioning producers and handlers technical assistance and engages organic buyers and handlers along with our partners at Rodale Institute and Organic Agronomy Training Services (OATS), reflecting a sincere commitment to growing the domestic supply chain and organic sector.

There have been innumerable collaborations between TOPP partners around the country since the program launched, and its impact is only beginning to be felt. This critical and landmark investment in organic production through TOPP touches Americans from the highest levels of the federal government to farmers and organic businesses in your local community.

OTA’s resounding commitment to and advocacy for further investment in organic transition will continue. Just as OTA applauded the commitment to improving access and opportunities for American producers in 2022, we encourage our members, stakeholders, and partners across the industry to support and engage in this work.

To learn more about OTA’s project, check out https://OTA.com/TOPP. To learn about the six Regional Centers (and soon to include the 2 national projects), go to https://organictransition.org.

By Libby Mucciarone, Director of Programs, Organic Trade Association

Why organic brands need a strong voice in policy making

icardozo — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 17:55:42 +0000

September 11, 2024

By Adam Warthesen, Vice President of Government & Industry Affairs for Organic Valley and Organic Trade Association Board of Directors Vice President

In today’s politically charged environment engaging in public policy seems more like a contact sport than an exercise in civic dialogue. I’ve done it; you’ve done it – turned off the TV, changed the radio station, or avoided social media altogether because you’re exhausted and frustrated by the polarizing and fractured state of political affairs.

At Organic Valley, we get it too. In phone calls, emails, and social media comments “….you lost me after working with Senator so-and-so on legislation;” and “USDA can never be trusted.” Even “…that group you co-signed a letter with or donated free product to doesn’t like farmers.”

These exchanges force us to examine: Is it worth it to be involved in the public policy arena?

Our answer is fixed both in our cooperative values and our economic reality, that as a national brand with thousands of member-owners and employees, not being involved makes our business vulnerable.

We need to know what’s coming at us in the marketplace and from the government. And we advocate for sound policy that will benefit our organic community of businesses, consumers, and farmers. Government relations is just another theater of power that businesses should not ignore – you might not need a big team, but you better have someone who wakes up every day thinking about how you succeed in this space.

With the next Farm Bill under development, USDA rulemaking for dairy pricing and organic coming forward, and a new stable of political leadership in 2025, these are the basic tenets that ground Organic Valley’s work and can help inform how others might approach food and farm policy:

Organic is primary. Protecting and advancing organic agriculture and integrity is our top priority. The business and our member-owners are certified organic, and that is where our focus – predominately at the federal level – needs to be.
Remain non-partisan. We need to work with representatives across the political spectrum. The very fact that our elected officials both vote on agricultural policy and belong to political parties (and run for office) means that if we want to influence farm and food policy, we need to work with people who have political views on any number of issues.
Maintain a separation from elections. Our co-op will not endorse candidates or political platforms for elected office. Organic Valley supports the U.S. system of democracy, and along with that, civic engagement where member-owners and employees are empowered to express support for any candidate they see fit and who represents their own personal preference, but they need to do it on their own time. As a business, it remains imperative that we avoid both the perception and reality of providing any preference for candidates in an election.
Span beyond organic. All our businesses are more than food companies. For us, that means finding our cooperative trade spirit or elevating healthy dairy or even taking a stand on environmental policy and issues that matter to consumers and farmers. Organic has changed the world, but we as an organization and as farmers showing up in more places create more, not less, opportunities.

Lean in: As companies look to build their government affairs capacity and seek to advance a collective interest in a topic/bill, the reality is you can’t do it alone.

In my experience leaning into your trade associations is a necessity. It gives you a space to test out ideas, to tap the knowledge and expertise of staff, and it provides grounding in what’s relevant in the here and now with policymakers. And perhaps most importantly it is a place to build industry cohesion around a topic and campaign efforts.

For Organic Valley, the Organic Trade Association represents that trusted anchor point, it’s where we commit our greater attention and resources to protect and grow the organic movement. As with anything in life, so too is a trade community, you get out what you put in.

I urge OTA members to join community task forces, councils and events, and meetings. My experience is the Trade wants to embrace companies and individuals ready to take action and who have an understanding that this is both a short and long game of work.

Don’t let the day-to-day noise distract or dissuade you from defining a role in public policy. Yes, it will take time and attention but it can pay dividends in helping your business plan and respond to the world that is ever changing.

Teaching and living the organic way in the heart of Nebraska

icardozo — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 20:44:49 +0000

September 10, 2024

Repost from The Organic Center.

September is not only Organic Month; it’s also Whole Grains Month. The Organic Center is thrilled to recognize The Grain Place Foundation in Nebraska, and its new communications coordinator and rising organic advocate Jane Coghlan.

For more than 6 decades, The Grain Place farm in central Nebraska has shown the way for organic grains production in the “Cornhusker” state and the Midwest and far beyond. Three generations of the Vetter family – dedicated to growing food and raising livestock in an environmentally friendly and sustainable way – have inspired and mentored countless numbers of farmers, agricultural professionals and food industry experts to work towards a healthier food production system.

When Jane Coghlan began her summer internship at The Grain Place farm in 2019, her family predicted the “city girl” from Dallas, Texas, wouldn’t last for more than a week. Then an undergraduate at Arizona State University, Coghlan not only lasted the entire summer but eagerly returned the following summer to work on the farm. Fast forward a few years, and Coghlan is now the newest and youngest member of The Grain Place Foundation board of directors and is Communications Coordinator for the foundation, heading up its communications and social media strategy.

Coghlan attributes her current path to those two impactful summers and the inspiration of David Vetter, the man at the helm of The Grain Place for over thirty years and one of the country’s most eminent organic pioneers.

“Being an intern at the Grain Place Farm was an incredible and life-changing experience for me. At the time, I had no farming knowledge whatsoever, but I was an undergraduate at Arizona State University studying sustainability and was curious about organic farming. David inspired me to study sustainable food systems at ASU and become a changemaker in transforming our food system to become more equitable and environmentally sustainable. The Grain Place continues to inspire me every day,” says Coghlan.

During her summer internships, Coghlan grew from a city kid to an experienced farm hand. She irrigated fields, installed electric fencing, drove tractors and harrowed fields on her own. Over time, she learned a wide range of skills, including animal husbandry, beekeeping, welding and composting. David Vetter took her under his wing and made sure her time on the farm was rich with opportunities, including visiting other farms in the area and attending an agricultural policy meeting with a Federal Trade Commissioner and other D.C. officials.

Coghlan’s focus now is to share the Grain Place’s story with a broader audience, and she says she’s especially excited to “continue building an online presence that reflects the farm’s rich history and David Vetter's deep knowledge.”

The Grain Place’s roots go back to 1953 when the Vetter family purchased the farm that was to become The Grain Place. David Vetter’s father Don, in charge of the family farm, began to question the science and ethics of the emerging use of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers and began to adopt organic farming methods. Vetter grew up working alongside his dad on the farm, but went off to college to earn his Bachelors in agronomy and soil science and a Masters of Divinity. He returned in 1975 and led the farm through the transition to becoming certified organic. For Vetter, organic and sustainable farming methods were the way he integrated his studies of biological and theological principles.

The Grain Place farm has been certified organic since 1978. The farm produces organic heirloom barley, soybeans, corn, popcorn and grass-finished beef in a nine-year rotation. In 1987, the family operation took the next step of establishing Grain Place Foods to process its own grains into value-added products onsite. Today, Grain Place Foods employs more than two dozen people, several of whom have worked there for over 15 years. Grain Place Foods also sources organic grain to supplement what is grown on the Vetter farm because the family business has expanded so much. It purchases organic grains from over 100 organic farm families, including more than four dozen neighboring Nebraskan farms.

The Vetter family established The Grain Place Foundation in 2016 as a way to invest the 280-acre family farm for the common future and with the goal for the private educational and scientific foundation to help spread the family’s vision of a way of farming for the health of the soil and the health of communities. Through the foundation, the family continues to work steadily to help steward other farms into making the transition to organic.

Healthy soil, crop rotation, and lots of bees

Coghlan stresses that it all starts with healthy soil at The Grain Place: “Everything we do starts with building and protecting soil health – that's always our top priority. Through our rotation and organic farming practices, we’ve created soil that’s rich in nutrients and teeming with microbial life. This healthy soil supports strong, resilient plants and a robust ecosystem that can better handle whatever Mother Nature throws at us.”

The Grain Place practices a unique 9-year crop rotation to achieve its healthy soil. The farm’s 280 acres host 18 fields, all farmed in the rotation schedule. In addition to its cash crops, the farm plants green cover crops like legumes, alfalfa, red clover and chicory to replenish the soils on the fields that are grazing its cattle. Its rotation includes four years of pasturing to supply the primary nutrients and micro nutrients for plant growth and creating organic matter. Bordering the farm and between fields, rows of trees have been planted to prevent pesticide drift from neighboring farms and enrich the farm’s ecosystem.

“By incorporating a wide variety of crops and pastures, we bring an incredible amount of diversity and life to the farm. It’s a beautiful experience to stand in one of our pastures, surrounded by native plants, and listen to the pollinators buzzing around happily. It’s good for the soul,” says Coghlan.

The farm also maintains an active beekeeping operation. The bees play a crucial role in pollinating many of the crops grown on the farm, contributing to better yields and more robust plants. Healthy pollinator populations help the farm support the biodiversity critical to organic farming, they play a role in seed production and ensure genetic diversity in organic crops, and they help manage pests and diseases naturally. The farm’s bees are an essential topic in its educational outreach about sustainable farming practices and in its campaign to raise awareness about the importance of pollinators.

“Maintaining bees on the farm also helps to build a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of our agricultural practices and natural systems,” says Coghlan. “Bees are a great indicator species – if they’re thriving, it’s often a good sign that the ecosystem on our land is healthy.”

The Grain Place partners in USDA initiative to support farmers transitioning to organic

In 2022, the USDA announced its Organic Transition Initiative (OTI) to expand organic agriculture by providing more direct support and technical assistance to producers across the United States. The $300 million program is the biggest single investment into organic ever made by the department. The program provides locally based farmer training and education in six regions across the U.S., with the Plains regions of the country – Nebraska, Colorada, Kansas, Oklahoma, and North and South Dakota – one of the designated regions.

The Organic Crop Improvement Association (OCIA) is the regional lead for Plains TOPP, and has put together a coalition of organizations providing technical assistance and wrap-around support for transitioning and existing organic farmers. OCIAreached out to The Grain Place Foundation last year to partner with it in its educational and mentoring activities through TOPP, and the results have been more than positive.

“When the TOPP program came along, it felt like a perfect fit,” says Coghlan. “Thanks to TOPP, we’ve been able to expand our efforts even further. We've hosted numerous webinars and informational events, reaching a broader audience of farmers interested in making the transition to organic.”

TOPP-sponsored Grain Place webinars have included an in-depth briefing by Vetter on the process of transitioning to organic farming, one on applying soil health principles in organic row crops with an organic specialist from the University of Nebraska, another on the connection between soil and human health with an ecology expert from Kansas State University, and more. A local farmer gathering was held at The Grain Place to discuss transitioning to organic agriculture. And The Grain Place’s annual field days, a tradition for over 30 years, are now also supported by TOPP to share the ongoing story of the Grain Place.

“The support we've gotten through TOPP has not only enabled us to continue our mission but also to strengthen and grow the organic community,” says Coghlan. “We’re seeing more farmers than ever take an interest in organic practices, and TOPP has played a vital role in making that happen. We’re optimistic that this momentum will improve local and regional infrastructure for organic agriculture in the grain belt—a critical need for sustainable growth in our sector.”

Patience, resilience and dedication

While Coghlan is in the early stages of her organic journey, her work and hands-on experience at The Grain Place and the teachings from Vetter and other organic experts at the farm have given her some important insights for farmers considering going organic.

“Farmers interested in the transition to organic grain production need to first understand that this journey is more of a marathon than a sprint. Transitioning to organic is not just about changing your inputs or practices; it’s about adopting a new mindset and commitment to ecological stewardship and soil health,” notes Coghlan.

She encourages farmers to build strong relationships within their local farming community, and to not hesitate to go to other organic producers for advice. She also invites farmers interested in transitioning to organic to take advantage of the resources of The Grain Place Foundation, noting that its field days, workshops, and mentorship opportunities provide practical knowledge and a supportive network.

But most importantly, Coghlan urges patience in the road to organic: “Remember that transitioning to organic is not an overnight process; it requires patience, resilience, and dedication. While there may be challenges in the short term, particularly with adjusting to new methods and navigating certification, the long-term benefits—healthier soil, increased biodiversity, and potentially higher premiums for your products—make the effort worthwhile.”

Mentoring, educating, inspiring, building community. Sustainability, environmentally friendly, healthy. All steadfast principles of the organic movement, of The Grain Place, and of venerable visionaries like David Vetter and of rising change makers like Jane Coghlan.

Original article found here.

Candy Schibli: Coffee roaster with a mission

vbatcha — Fri, 16 Feb 2024 17:23:33 +0000

February 16, 2024

For organic coffee roaster Candy Schibli, a cup of coffee isn’t just a cup of coffee. It represents a ritual savored by people around the world and a healthy spark for greater mental and physical potential. And in Schilbi’s case, a product produced sustainably and organically by mostly small farmers who are women of color.

Schibli, founder of Southeastern Roastery in Baltimore, Maryland, is a member of the Organic Trade Association and participant in OTA’s Diversity and Entrepreneurship program, which is a part of the association’s Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) commitment. Joining the OTA community in 2023, Schibli started the process towards organic certification last fall and is now awaiting her final inspection by her certifier, Quality Certification Services (QVS).

Working with the trade association in her path to certification has been incredibly helpful, says Schibli. In addition to the $750 grant from OTA toward her certification costs, the connections she’s made through the OTA community have been invaluable.

“The diversity network that OTA introduced me to has been just extraordinary for us,” according to Schibli. “Meeting others in the organic community has been very helpful and has given us so much visibility.”

At first glance, Schibli’s journey from a chemical engineer and international sustainable agriculture consultant to an organic coffee roaster looks a little ... unexpected. But after a closer look and a conversation with the busy entrepreneur, it makes almost total sense.

“Going from chemical engineering to becoming a coffee roaster is not actually far off,” Schibli explains. “Chemical engineering and the process of coffee roasting have many similarities... coffee roasting is a thermodynamic process; it’s an industrial process, so a lot of the theories I learned in engineering can be applied in coffee roasting. Plus, my background in natural resources and sustainable development helps me in sourcing my coffee beans.”

Schibli started Southeastern Roastery in 2016 in the kitchen of her great grandmother’s home in rural southeastern Virginia (hence the name of the roastery) where she assembled a one-kilogram roaster and began roasting beans and building a small base of customers. She eventually purchased a bigger 12-kilo roaster – too big for her grandmother’s house – so she opened a pop-up roastery and coffee shop that operated out of a Washington, D.C., restaurant. In late 2019, she moved her operations to Baltimore, and just recently moved into an even larger facility which can accommodate her 12-kilo roaster and a newly purchased 20-kilo machine.

From the start, Schibli wanted her business to give opportunities to often underserved women of color and has tried to work with female-run companies and farms throughout her supply chain. She’s also chosen organic beans whenever she could, although the global world of coffee has presented special challenges.

“We’ve always purchased organic beans, but the beans are not always certified organic,” says Schibli. “Many of the smaller coffee farmers in the countries we work with cannot afford certification and that locks them out of business, so we haven’t shut those folks out. We buy from them as well as organic certified.”

Typical of her global perspective, Schibli sees organic certification for Southeastern Roastery as more than just a benefit for her company but for the coffee growers she works with.

“There is a larger market we can reach by having the Organic seal. Organic certification will help us get recognized for some of the work we’re already doing, as well as open more doors and markets for us to reach new customers and increase revenue,” says Schibli. “I’d also like to help on the back end with some of the folks that we work with to get certified as well. I know the process is a bit different in the growing countries than in the U.S., but that’s kind of been my organic trajectory.”

Schibli knows from first-hand experience the benefits of having a good tutor in obtaining organic certification. Before she made the turn to coffee roaster, she consulted and worked with coffee growers and coffee roasters across the globe, including an organic coffee company with which she walked through the organic certification process.

“When I started my company, I had already put in place many of the processes for tracking inventory that need to be in place for certification, so that when we did go into organic certification, we were already set up to meet the requirements,” she explains.

Growing her business, helping others grow theirs – two of the biggest benefits in Schibli’s eyes of organic certification. And there’s another one: “Being certified organic will help us expand more of our product, and that will really help with the education of our customers and consumers about the organic process and coffee and why it’s important.”

Lots to think about next time you order that cup of coffee.

Dr. Nettles – Making people healthier: One cup of organic tea at a time

vbatcha — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 01:46:09 +0000

February 12, 2024

Helping people become healthy naturally and organically is in Dr. Dana Nettles’s DNA. Born into a family with a long legacy of healing and close ties to nature, and raised by parents who were a physician and a nurse, Dr. Nettles grew up respecting and learning the healing powers of nature and wanting to share that knowledge with others in their journeys to health.

CEO and Co-Founder of Dr. Nettles Natural Beauty company, a pharmacist of almost four decades, an herbalist, and an organic farmer, Dr. Nettles is a member of the Organic Trade Association (OTA) and participant in OTA’s Diversity and Entrepreneurship program, which is a part of the association’s Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) commitment.

Dr. Nettles is now spearheading her company’s efforts to become USDA Organic certified, and she says that the trade association has been instrumental in helping her in the process.

“Joining OTA has helped me through so many of the tough times in getting certified,” said Dr. Nettles. “A lot of times you’ll get discouraged, but if you have a mentor that can help walk you through, that is the most important thing.”

Dr. Nettles’s ancestors settled on the Gulf of Mexico and in northern Alabama where they harvested land for medicinal purposes. The family farm in northern Alabama dates back to her great, great, great grandfather who acquired a plot of land in the late 1800s. Since the 1930s, the family has sold organic herbal tea and soaps made from products grown on their farm, and in the early 2000s, Dr. Nettles and her husband incorporated the business into Dr. Nettles Natural Beauty. A small farm close to Mobile, Alabama, the headquarters of the company, now produces most of the Dr. Nettles teas and other products, while the larger farm is used to grow the “big goods” like hickory, chicory and bamboo.

“My family has always lived an herbal medicine life. My dad’s a physician and my mom’s a nurse, but they would never let us take prescription medicine!” said Dr. Nettles. “My great uncles were pharmacists and owned their own apothecaries. They grew their own products to help people get healthy naturally. Herbal medicine has been such an asset to me ... It’s been life-changing, and my family’s been doing it forever.”

Dr. Nettles traces her current path to certified organic to first joining the Black Farmers Index a couple of years ago and then getting acquainted with OTA, particularly with Stephanie Jerger, Vice President of Operations for OTA and also head of OTA’s Diversity program.

“Stephanie really propelled me,” said Dr. Nettles. “She made me realize how important it was to get that organic certification. I think we can help a lot more people once we get the USDA Organic seal of approval.”

OTA’s support has been more than just morale building and information sharing. Shortly into the certification process, which started last fall, she realized that her certifier required a fee as soon as the application for certification was sent in. She turned to OTA, and the trade association awarded her a $750 grant through its Diversity and Entrepreneurship Fund (DEF) to apply to her certification costs.

“OTA was absolutely amazing because one of the biggest challenges to becoming certified is financial, and trying to figure out how you’re going to pay for it because your certifier wants your money up front. OTA really came through for us,” she said.

According to Dr. Nettles, the other big challenge to getting USDA organic certification is the paperwork. “Everything has to be very, very specific ... you can’t take anything for granted. ... almost every day we are getting something from our certifier to do this, send that, do that,” she explained while remaining full of praise for her certifying agency, Quality Certification Services (QCS), noting that they've been “phenomenal” in being helpful and responsive with any questions throughout the process.

Because the farms have been in the family for decades, and have never had any synthetic chemicals, herbicides, fertilizers or other inputs applied, the certification process for Dr. Nettles is 80 percent complete, with the final certification inspection scheduled for this spring. Although the road has sometimes been bumpy, Dr. Nettles sees nothing but benefits to getting that USDA Organic seal.

“Becoming certified organic will open up so many doors,” she shared. “It will help us get into better markets, and enable us to give better quality food to people. That’s the most important. We need quality and accountability, and that’s what’s not in our food system.”

“I’ve been a pharmacist for 36 years, and I’ve seen our world explode with diseases. It’s heartbreaking, and what we are eating is a major cause of many of today’s illnesses. That’s why organic and certified organic is so important,” Dr. Nettles explained. “It may be baby steps for my little company to help our kids and grandkids live in a healthier place, but we’re going to cure people one at a time.”

USDA Announces $185 Million in Funding to Advance Organic at Organic Week 2023

vbatcha — Wed, 17 May 2023 15:22:37 +0000

May 17, 2023

Last week, the Organic Trade Association gathered with organic businesses from across the supply chain, coalition partners, scientists, advocates and policymakers in the nation’s capital for Organic Week 2023. Leaders in organic farming, business and science discussed complex organic issues including plastics in the supply chain, cultivating diversity in the sector, and projects to maximize the industry’s climate benefits. Attendees met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to discuss organic priorities and the upcoming Farm Bill, celebrated our 2022 Leadership Award winners and received breaking announcements from USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack on funding and programs to advance organic. The jampacked week left us inspired, invigorated and ready to fight harder than ever to advance the industry.

In a big win for organic, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced an estimated $185 million in funding for programs to grow the organic market and support organic producers with transition and certification during Organic Week’s policy conference!

The agency pledged $75 million to help improve domestic organic supply chains with pinpointed market development through its Organic Market Development Grant (OMDG) Program and officially invited organic stakeholders to apply for the funding. The grant program will strengthen the supply chain and expand organic processing capacity to create critical new paths to market for climate-smart organic farmers and increase consumer access to organic foods and products. There are two funding levels, including simplified equipment-only grants ranging from $10,000-100,000 as well as larger market development and promotion grants ranging from $100,000-3,000,0000. OTA encourages its members and all organic stakeholders to take advantage of this opportunity offered by USDA and to apply to become part of this program. USDA is accepting applications for the program through July 11, 2023.

Secretary Vilsack also shared that the Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP) was restored to the previous reimbursement level of 75% of certification costs up to $750 per certification scope. An estimated $10 million in funding will be distributed through the program, which is critical for attracting new, young farmers to organic. The application period will remain open until October 31st, 2023, for costs incurred from Oct. 1, 2022, through Sept. 30, 2023. Contact your local USDA Service Center to apply. OMDG and OCCSP are both part of the agency’s historic $300 million Organic Transition Initiative announced in 2022.

The Secretary announced the agency’s Organic Dairy Marketing Assistance Program (ODMAP) will be accepting applications by the end of the month and expediting payments to producers. ODMAP was originally announced in January after the efforts of the OTA’s Animale Feedstuff Relief Taskforce worked with Congress and USDA to address a growing crisis in organic dairies. The program will provide $100 million in support of organic dairies as they face dwindling supply and rising costs of organic feedstuff due to unprecedented shocks to the global trade. As the program is implemented, OTA and USDA are committed to reviewing the program to ensure the $100 million reaches the organic dairy farmers who need it most.

Organic industry advocates for thriving American farmers and resilient supply chains on Capitol Hill

After a productive and collaborative Policy Conference, Organic Trade Association members flocked to Capitol Hill to advocate for organic policy priorities in the upcoming Farm Bill. Member advocates representing 34 states met with more than 160 Congressional offices to promote policies centered around ensuring organic standards keep pace with marketplace demands and provide supportive research and risk management tools to organic farmers. They also called for conservation and climate-smart programs to acknowledge the contributions of organic farming practices in protecting natural resources, and policies that strengthen the resiliency of the organic supply chain. This successful message for organic resonated with both Democratic and Republican offices. Many offices in the House of Representatives expressed interest in joining the House Organic Caucus and several staff from visited offices requested more information on the Continuous Improvement and Accountability in Organic Standards as OTA looks toward following up a strong showing on the Hill with the introduction of our signature legislation.

Trade Association Members Fight Fraud to Protect Organic

stephanie@llmpubs.com — Fri, 09 Sep 2022 18:32:11 +0000

September 9, 2022

What can you do to protect your business from organic fraud?

The success of the organic sector relies entirely on consumer trust in the USDA organic seal. Supply chains compromised due to fraud can erode consumer trust in the integrity of the organic brand and hurt organic farmers everywhere. It is critical that every organic business has a system in place that will prevent fraud and support the promise of providing organic products that people can trust.

If your business buys or sells organic products, now more than ever, you are at risk. Global supply chains are being disrupted, creating opportunities for fraud. The private sector is working together with USDA to secure the organic sector from criminal activity. Every stakeholder in the industry is responsible for maintaining organic integrity throughout their own business practices to maintain consumer trust in their brand and products. To further that expectation, the Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE) rule mandates that all USDA certified operations have an organic fraud prevention plan added to their organic system plan.

Organic Trade Association has invested significant time and resources in developing a program that will help certified operations become compliant with the SOE rule. Organic Fraud Prevention Solutions provides businesses engaged in organic trade with a risk-based process for assessing vulnerabilities and putting mitigation measures in place to prevent organic fraud.

Online Training and Program Guide

A key component of the program is an online training course and supplemental program guide, which provides the framework for assessing vulnerabilities and implementing an organic fraud prevention plan. The course, “Developing an Organic Fraud Prevention Plan,” was created in partnership with the Michigan State University Food Fraud Initiative, and is offered through the Food Fraud Prevention Academy along with many other educational resources.

The USDA’s Organic Integrity Learning Center offers additional courses such as “Preventing the Organic Fraud Opportunity” and “Organic Fraud and the Criminal Mind.” These trainings are designed for organic inspectors and certifiers to complement Organic Trade Association’s program, and to assist them in their evaluation of an organic fraud prevention plan.

Recognizing Leaders in Organic Integrity and Fraud Prevention

Forty-four organic operations are currently enrolled in the program, demonstrating their dedication to maintaining organic integrity by adding organic fraud prevention plans to their organic system plans. These early adopters stand out as leaders in organic integrity and transparency, and they are being recognized in the marketplace for their efforts.

Sunrise Foods, a global trader of premium specialty agri-food ingredients, was the first business to complete the enrollment process, and they have re-enrolled in the program to continue to monitor vulnerabilities in their supply chain. The Sunrise team chose to take advantage of the consultative services offered by one of the programs designated Trusted Advisors, Miles McEvoy, former Deputy Secretary at the USDA National Organic Program. Trusted Advisors are industry professionals who are qualified to advise and assist companies enrolled in Organic Fraud Prevention Solutions; they are experts in Vulnerability Assessment Critical Control Points (VACCP) and can go in-depth with enrolled participants to develop an organic fraud prevention plan.

Tobi Strohan, Vice President of Compliance for Sunrise Foods, valued Miles’ support throughout the enrollment process, “Sunrise Foods International is proud to be among the first to complete enrolment in the OTA’s Fraud Prevention Solutions Program. The training, manual, and templates provided a straightforward, comprehensive guide for our new plan, which underlines our commitment to upholding organic integrity across the supply chain. Our program was developed in collaboration with Miles McEvoy, with the support of the OTA team along the way. We recommend the OTA program as an excellent fraud prevention framework and are excited to see more participants coming on board.”

This article was originally published in the Fall 2022 Organic Report, you can view the full magazine here.

JEDI Program Supports Organic Innovators Getting Certified

stephanie@llmpubs.com — Fri, 09 Sep 2022 16:33:21 +0000

September 9, 2022

In May 2021, OTA established a Diversity & Entrepreneurship Program and Fund as part of its Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) commitment. The Diversity & Entrepreneurship Program and Fund provides (among other benefits) a two-year Trade Membership with voting rights to Organic Trade Association for businesses that are 51 percent owned and controlled by under-represented groups including Black, Hispanic/Latinx, Native American/Indigenous American/Alaska Native, Pacific Islander, and women. To date, this targeted membership program has brought more than 20 new members to the trade association. Here, we introduce you to two of the members: Waju Water and Green Heffa Farms.

Meet the Member: Waju Water

Every year, juice processors in the United States discard an estimated 700 million gallons of water from fresh fruit. Waju Water Founder and CEO Chris Oates thinks there’s a better use for that fruit water than just sending it down the drain—particularly given the severity of our climate crisis and the limited supply of fresh groundwater. That’s why in 2020, Chris put his head together with some of the most innovative fruit suppliers and scientists and founded Waju Water—the only beverage brand made by harnessing the pure water naturally found in real fruit.

With Waju, customers are getting a delicious beverage that’s made nearly 100 percent from a resource that would otherwise be wasted—organic water from fruit. Every 12 ounces of Waju consumed equates to 12 ounces of water saved instead of wasted—i.e., 12 ounces of water that didn’t have to be pulled from an underground aquifer! Not only does Waju bring the refreshing bright taste of fruit, but according to the company it also provides ultra-hydration thanks to a boost of antioxidants and vitamin C that come directly from the fruit.

Waju debuted online in 2021 and can also be found in select natural grocery stores. The fruit water has been incredibly popular so far, hitting a sweet spot with consumers who are looking for products that satisfy on flavor and go above and beyond on climate and societal impact.

“I admire a lot of brands out there that are focused on social good in select ways,” says Chris, “like charitable good programs or through donations. But for me, it’s important that even our product itself has a direct societal impact which, in our case, empowers consumers to participate in the upcycled movement with each can they drink.”

Waju’s serious mission is counterbalanced by its fun and whimsical packaging, which recently won the company two Dieline design awards, including Functional Beverage Design of the Year. Waju draws in customers by depicting its organic fruit as vessels of discovery and positions consumers as explorers on a journey to discover better, more-sustainable beverages. Organic ingredients are highlighted by intriguing tag lines like “water that sparkles the imagination” and “upcycled fruit water,” which let consumers know that something truly exceptional awaits them inside the slim, forever recyclable can.

“Organic resonates with me because I’m thinking beyond just my own life,” says Chris. “Are these natural resources going to be available for our children? Our grandchildren? I want to do anything I can right now that will benefit the long-term health of our food system for generations to come—as a person and a founder. For me, that’s organic.”

Chris and Waju joined Organic Trade Association in early 2022 as part of OTA’s Diversity and Entrepreneurship Fund (DEF), which helps to elevate businesses led by persons of color. DEF and OTA Diversity Council leaders are members who are exceptionally passionate about creating a better food and farm system and understand the importance of advancing equity and access within organic.

“As a Black-owned company in an industry where founders of color make up only a tiny fraction of companies, I have this human mission to champion underrepresented communities and expose people to more founders of color who are creating really cool, innovative products that are shaping our future,” says Chris.

By joining OTA’s 9,500 members across the country, Chris and Waju can lead by example and show shoppers, business leaders, and food entrepreneurs that there is a place for them in the organic community. The climate crisis is already here. That’s why it’s imperative that organic grow not only as an industry, but also as a community. With two-thirds of the global population expected to face water scarcity by 2025, there is no better time than now to follow Waju’s lead.

Meet the Member: Green Heffa Farms

“Farmer Cee” (aka Clarenda Stanley), an enigmatic personality with a penchant for word play, never planned to be a farmer. A natural and poignant communicator, Cee had historically channeled her energy into marketing, fundraising, and other creative works. But in watching the graceful way she works across her 14+ acres of medicinal plants and herbs and witnessing the care with which Farmer Cee treats every living thing (even a precariously perched family of wasps), it seems almost destiny that Cee would become a farmer. Today, Farmer Cee is the CEO/President of Green Heffa Farms, a Certified B Corporation and organic farm located in northern Chatham County, North Carolina.

Farmer Cee and Green Heffa Farms are committed to the best practices in organic and heritage farming, as well as Cee’s 4Es: Economic empowerment, Equity, Environment, and Education.

“We’re seed to sip,” says Farmer Cee, “which means we take care of our plants from the beginning of their life until they end up in your cup. Our blends are unique, but not complicated. Not only are you getting the botanical benefits when you use our products, but you’re also supporting our values as a business. Our customers support us being good stewards through our organic practices, through our energy usage, the materials and packaging we choose, the whole package.”

Growing up in Alabama’s agrarian Black Belt, Cee was surrounded by organic growing practices—although she didn’t know it at the time. Cee’s grandmother gardened while her grandfather farmed, and both employed heritage growing techniques and traditional knowledge in how they engaged with the land, plants, and the thriving ecosystem around them.

“We didn’t call it organic,” says Farmer Cee, “so it took me a while to realize that some of the terminology used today is really just encapsulating practices that were already in place like on my grandparents’ farm. Once I learned about those tenets, I realized—oh yeah, that’s how we farm! Once I began to research more about organic farming, it felt like a remembrance.”

Cee leaned into that history when, in 2019, she suddenly became the sole operator of Green Heffa Farms. Thrust from the business development and operations to the growing side of the farm, Cee drew on her experiences as a child and on knowledge she had built up while working in the environmental and conservation spaces. By diving in whole-heartedly and staying open to the learning process, Cee was able to transform Green Heffa Farms into a thriving organic farm that grows not only high-quality herbs and botanicals, but also equity and economic empowerment.

“As a Black woman, there’s a very tenuous relationship with safety and respect in this culture,” says Farmer Cee. “Farming puts you in touch with your humanity because you’re literally touching life, nurturing and incubating growth. I can show love through farming in a way that allows me to do it without constantly looking over my shoulder.”

Farmer Cee is big on symbiosis. It’s why she farms the way she does, why she produces mind/body healing teas and steams, and why she believes connection is a critical part of widening the circle and growing the organic community. Connection is why Farmer Cee became an OTA member in early 2022 and also why Green Heffa Farms is a Certified B-Corporation. Farmer Cee wants to be an example to other Black farmers and those who procure agricultural goods who do not already intentionally include Black farmers in the organic supply chain.

“That was one of the things that really appealed to me about joining OTA, being part of making those circles more inclusive,” says Farmer Cee. “I wanted to make sure the voices of farmers like me were represented. And I want to connect with my fellow organic folks—I know all of them have tea in the breakroom, so let’s talk about making that Green Heffa tea!”

Farmer Cee’s teas and steams can be ordered directly on the Green Heffa Farms website (where you can also sign up for Farmer Cee’s newsletter) as well as through Thrive Market and in all Weaver Street Markets.

This article was originally published in the Fall 2022 Organic Report, you can view the full magazine here.

Moving the Needle on Expanding Organic in California

stephanie@llmpubs.com — Fri, 09 Sep 2022 16:16:31 +0000

September 9, 2022

Organic supports climate resilience, economic security, and health equity. CCOF’s goal is to expand the benefits of organic to all of California by transitioning 30 percent of California’s agricultural land to organic by 2030. Currently, just under 10 percent of farmland in California is organic. To reach this target, we took a deep dive into the research on the benefits of organic and how organic can be supported at the policy level. We developed nearly 40 recommendations in our Roadmap to an Organic California: Policy Report. And now, we’re enacting these recommendations.

CCOF successfully advanced legislation that allows livestock producers to slaughter a limitless number of goats, sheep, swine, and cattle on the ranch. This opens alternative avenues for ranchers to put meat on their neighbors’ plates, ensures communities have access to food in case of a crisis, and improves ranchers’ financial resilience. Expanding on-ranch slaughter provides livestock producers greater flexibility and market opportunities.
CCOF successfully advocated for $5 million in the California state budget to create an Organic Transition Program. We are now working to pass legislation to set guidelines on the structure of this program, including prioritizing financial and technical assistance for underserved farmers. CCOF hopes to remove barriers to entry for farmers who manage their businesses on thinner margins and cannot assume more risk, as well as for farmers of color who have faced historical and current discrimination that limits access to resources and information. The bill also requires a statewide market analysis of the organic sector to help current and future farmers understand the market landscape and expand marketing options.
CCOF is running legislation to streamline oversight of organic food manufacturers. California’s organic food manufacturing and processing sector is an economic powerhouse, generating $34.5 billion in sales in 2021, a 133 percent increase from 2020. However, as sales continue to climb, there is a need for more efficient and transparent oversight of organic food manufacturers. CCOF is advancing a bill to update the registration process, address consumer complaints more quickly, and track program revenues and costs. This bill will improve organic food manufacturers’ bottom line and support their ability to meet the ever-increasing demand for organic products.
CCOF successfully advocated for organic food in California’s Farm to School Program. This grant program now gives an incentive for schools to buy organic and prioritizes organic producers for grants to cover expenses related to food production, processing, and distribution. Schools often struggle to procure organic foods because of limited resources, strict requirements, and facilities that are not designed for scratch cooking. At the same time, organic farmers can face difficult product requirements and lower prices in the school food market. The Farm to School Program will help provide schools and producers with resources to overcome these obstacles and bring more organic food to lunchrooms across the state.
CCOF is pushing for California’s climate policy to include organic as a climate strategy. Organic combats climate change by prohibiting the use of fossil fuel-derived synthetic pesticides and fertilizers and by requiring soil building practices that sequester carbon. At the same time, organic operations are resilient in the face of more extreme weather events. Recognizing these climate benefits, the California Air Resources Board has adopted the goal of transitioning more acreage to organic as part of its climate strategy. CCOF celebrates this win and is continuing to push for greater recognition of organic as a climate solution at state and federal levels.

Our successes would not be possible without organic farmers, ranchers, and processors, as well as partner organizations advocating alongside us. Learn more about the Roadmap to an Organic California project at www.ccof.org/roadmap.

This article was prepared by Rebekah Weber, CCOF Policy Director.

This article was originally published in the Fall 2022 Organic Report, you can view the full magazine here.

OTA Diversity Council Engages Staff and Members in a Commitment to Racial Equity

stephanie@llmpubs.com — Fri, 09 Sep 2022 16:10:55 +0000

September 9, 2022

Each week, OTA’s Accounting Manager, Janet Martz, processes hundreds of financial and administrative transactions for the organization. However, she never had the opportunity to meaningfully engage with members or OTA’s programming until the establishment of the Diversity Council.

In 2020, at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, much of the world was forced into a lull, which created a lot of time for introspection. OTA used that time to survey its landscape and determine how we could continue to engage our membership and double-down on our mission. That exercise highlighted two opportunities: OTA had the ability to unify more voices and to expand the diversity of our membership.

With an added understanding and purpose, OTA’s staff and board launched a series of commitments, embodied in our Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) work. The commitments gave new measure to our mission, body to our programming, and a new place for members to engage. We are taking concrete steps to ensure that our successes promote diversity rather than perpetuate social inequalities. We are developing practices and creating opportunities that embed our JEDI commitments into the fabric of OTA and the organic movement. Those efforts begin with the Diversity Council.

Like Martz, our members’ Finance, Administrative, Operations, and Human Resources (HR) staff are active and prominent figures in their companies’ day-to-day operations and their own relationships as OTA trade members. Yet, as important as our work is, these key staff often do not get the opportunity to participate in ways that fully take advantage of the benefits of their OTA membership. The Diversity Council offers a place for members in a wide range of positions and from a wide range of backgrounds to connect. The council’s Vice Chair, Carla Balen, started as the Head of People at Organically Grown Company about a year and a half ago. She had many years of experience as an HR professional, but never in the organic trade. She immediately found value in participating in the Diversity Council. It is her first real engagement with the trade association, and she joins many other Organically Grown Company staff who have been deeply involved in our work for many years. “Where we place our resources and what we choose to have conversations about sends a strong message. Personally, not knowing that much about OTA, I would be disappointed if we didn’t have this council,” Balen says, underscoring the importance of creating a formal space to have important conversations about equity and inclusion.

The Diversity Council has the distinct mandate to lead work that is not dedicated to any specific business sector or trade issue, but impacts all parts of the trade. Because of that, its membership list includes staff with titles such as Inclusive Diversity Manager, Chief People Officer, Coordinator, and Accounting Manager. OTA’s Martz had no previous experience in the work of diversity, equity, or inclusion prior to joining this council. “I intentionally engage now, where I would not have thought to do so before,” she says after recounting her experiences while participating in the 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge with the Diversity Council. The challenge was facilitated by Food Solutions New England, with the goal of helping participants commit to deepening their understanding of, and willingness to confront, issues of race and equity. Many council members participated and used the challenge to examine food justice from their own organic sector lens.

Since its establishment, the council has guided some noteworthy work, which can be reviewed in the 2021 Annual Report. But our most exciting work is yet to come. 2022 has ushered in some very tangible opportunities for the Diversity Council to learn and grow. The outpouring of support from the OTA membership has allowed us to provide sponsorship for conferences specifically geared toward empowering BlPOC farmers and ranchers. We are preparing to conduct our Annual JEDI Survey, which keeps us informed on how we can best support our members’ JEDI efforts and build more coalitions. We are designing for more professional development opportunities for OTA’s staff, so that they fully represent the importance of this work on behalf of the membership.

There will be many impactful things coming from this council, so please consider this your invitation to join us!

Stephanie Jerger is the Vice President of Administration for Organic Trade Association.

This article was originally published in the Fall 2022 Organic Report, you can view the full magazine here.