Main Menu New

Award Honorees

The Organic Trade Association has been recognizing organic leaders who inspire and innovate for over 20 years when the first Leadership Award was given to Senator Patrick Leahy for his work developing the national organic standards. Since then a diverse group of honorees have been nominated by their peers and confirmed unanimously by OTA’s Board of Directors. Awards are presented each Fall during OTA’s Annual Awards Gala as part of Natural Products Expo East. Check out the incredible group of honorees below and learn more about their impressive contributions to furthering organic by clicking on their names to read their bios. 

2022

Clif Bar & Company
Community Service
Timeless Seeds
Organic Groundbreaker
April Joy Farm
Organic Farmer of the Year
CROPP Cooperative/Organic Valley
Organic Climate Action
Eat the Change
Social Impact

2021

Organics Unlimited
Organic Pioneer
Cyclone Farms
Organic Famer of the Year
Clif Bar & Company
Community Service
Stonyfield
Climate Action

2020

Wedeberg Farm / CROPP Cooperative
Growing Organic Community
D&M Family Farm
Rising Star
Grimmway Farms and Cal-Organic Farm
Farmer of the Year

2019

JV Farms Organic
Organic Farmer of the Year
Organic Agsystems Consulting
Growing Organic Community
Cold Springs Organics
Rising Star

2018

International Organic Inspectors Association
Growing Organic Industry Award
JSM Organics
Rising Star Award
Alexandre EcoDairy Farm
Organic Farmer of the Year Award

2017

Bob Anderson, Growing the Organic Industry
Sustainable Strategies—Advisers in Food and Agriculture
Growing the Organic Industry
Peggy Sutton, Rising Star Organic
To Your Health Sprouted Flour
Rising Star
LaRocca Vineyards
Organic Farmer of the Year

2016

Texas Organic Cotton Marketing Cooperative
Farmer of the Year
Manitoba Harvest Hemp Foods
Rising Star
Grain Place Foods
Growing the Organic Industry

2015

Tom Harding, Growing the Organic Industry Award, OTA
Lehigh Valley Organic Growers
Growing the Organic Industry
Michael Berger, OTA Rising Organic Star Award
Elevation Burger
Rising Star
Benny McLean, Organic Farmer of the Year, OTA
Uncle Matt's Organic
Organic Farmer of the Year

2014

Vilicus Farms
Organic Farmer of the Year Award
Marty Mesh
Florida Certified Organic Growers and Consumers
Growing the Organic Industry Award
Naturpedic Organic Mattresses
Rising Star Award

2013

Nature’s Path Foods
Growing the Organic Industry Award
Stemilt Growers
Organic Farmer of the Year Award
Archi’s Acres/VSAT
Rising Star Award

2012

Stonyfield
Organic Leadership Award for Achievement in Growing the Organic Industry
CCOF
Organic Leadership Award for Achievement in Growing Organic Agriculture

2011

UNFI
Organic Leadership Award for Achievement in Growing the Organic Industry
USDA
Organic Leadership Award for Achievement in Growing Organic Agriculture

2010

Organic Valley
Organic Leadership Award for Achievement in Growing the Organic Industry
Kamut
Organic Leadership Award for Achievement in Growing Organic Agriculture

2009

Certified Organic Associations of British Columbia
Organic Leadership Award for Achievement in Growing the Organic Industry
Lundberg Family Farms
Organic Leadership Award for Achievement in Growing Organic Agriculture

2008

Stormy Mountain Ranch
Organic Farming Leadership Award
Earthbound Farm
Organic Leadership Award

2007

Seeds of Change
Organic Leadership Award
Jacobs Farm/Del Cabo
Organic Farming Leadership Award

2006

Organic Trade Association
Outstanding Individual Achievement

2005

Quality Assurance International (QAI)
Special Pioneer Award
Pepper Farms
Organic Agriculture Award

2004

Growers International
Organic Agriculture Award
Nora's/Asia Nora's
Special Pioneer Award

2003

Rodale Institute
Special Pioneer Award

2002

Maggie’s Organics/Clean Clothes, Inc.
Special Pioneer Award
Oak Manor Farms
Organic Agriculture Award
Horizon Organic Dairy
Outstanding Individual Achievement Award
Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF)
Legislative and Regulatory Award

2001

Petaluma Poultry (posthumously)
Special Pioneer Award
Wolf & Associates
Outstanding Individual Achievement Award

2000

Agricultural Marketing Program, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Organic Leadership Award

1999

Arrowhead Mills
Organic Leadership Award

1998

Walnut Acres
Organic Leadership Award

1997

United States Senate
Organic Leadership Award

Organic Leadership Awards