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It’s time to double-down on big ideas and better solutions. In the backdrop of the nation’s capital, join us at the epicenter of culinary creativity for a collaborative event about the future of organic. We’ll explore leading-edge thinking, discuss bold strategies, and take incremental steps to advance policy and private sector solutions.
Join us for Organic Week D.C.
Learn more
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The Organic Trade Association is coordinating the effort to advance a voluntary industry-invested organic research, promotion and education check-off-like program,. This is a private-sector initiative that will be collaboratively designed and implemented by organic stakeholders.
Tell us your big idea to GRO Organic
SUBMIT YOUR IDEA
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Download video and graphic assets to share with your social media networks.
And if you buy organic, you'll never have to.
DOWNLOAD
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The organic sector's integrated value chain not only delivers organic products from seed to shelf, but helps to capture consumer demand for the benefit of the farmers, the economy, and the public.
Download the latest organic industry infographic
LEARN MORE
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OTA's Board is comprised of 15 diverse individuals, from multiple points along the supply chain, who bring an unparalleled commitment and vision to guide the future direction of OTA.
Meet Our Board of Directors
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OTA’s consumer survey takes an in-depth look at the buying patterns of American households, who buys organic products, what products are being bought, the reasons behind those decisions, and the purchase patterns of the organic consumer.
Latest Organic Consumer Data
LEARN MORE
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The Organic Trade Association has taken action to defend the organic seal and organic standards by filing a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture over its failure to put into effect new organic livestock standards.
OTA sues USDA over animal welfare standards
LEARN MORE
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The Organic Center and Northeastern University have released a breakthrough study showing that organic cuts agriculture’s contribution to climate change!
Organic can help mitigate climate change!
LEARN MORE
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OTA’s members work together through networking, advocacy, and other initiatives to encourage and protect organic farming practices, and to share messages about the positive environmental and nutritional attributes of organic products with consumers, the media, and policymakers.
MAKE AN IMPACT
JOIN OTA
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OTA has spearheaded and underwritten significant studies on organic trade in its effort to build a sound set of data for organic stakeholders and policymakers when they make their business decisions and design policy. The latest report is now available for download.
Just Released U.S. Organic Trade Data Report: 2011 to 2016
LEARN MORE
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"U.S. Organic Hotspots and their Benefit to Local Economies" is conclusive research that links economic health at the county level to organic agriculture, and shows that organic food and crop production–and the business activities accompanying organic agriculture–creates real and long-lasting regional economic opportunities.
Research shows organic agriculture boosts local economies
LEARN MORE
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The Organic Trade Association's mission is to promote and protect ORGANIC with a unifying voice that serves and engages its diverse members from farm to marketplace. OTA's vision is to grow ORGANIC to achieve excellence in agriculture and commerce, protect the environment and enhance community well-being.

Our priorities: healthy markets, successful farmers, expanded production.

We bring the U.S. organic industry to developing markets around the world.

We track market size, growth, and consumer perceptions on the nearly $50B U.S. organic sector.

We want more research, more technical assistance, and more education on organic.

Current Issues

New Program: Organic Fraud Prevention Solutions

Be an early adopter and pre-enroll to help eliminate organic fraud.

Implementing Farm Bill Advancements for Organic

Learn more about how organic priorities fared in the 2018 Farm Bill.

Position on GMO Labeling Standard

Organic Trade Association deeply disappointed in USDA final GMO labeling rule. 

Lawsuit against USDA to defend organic

Organic Trade Association blasts USDA withdrawal of organic animal welfare rule.

March 26, 2019
Report Details Overall Benefits of Organic Production
March 21, 2019
GRO Organic gains momentum
March 20, 2019
US organic body launches industry-focused fraud prevention program
April 11, 2019
Sustainable ag practices are a win-win, Montana organic farmer tells Congress
April 10, 2019
Organic activism: How can organic investors and consumers fight the good fight?
April 3, 2019
The changing face of organic: How can organic extend its reach?
  • April 24, 2019 to April 26, 2019
    Spring 2019 National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) Meeting

    Spring 2019 National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) Meeting

    Wednesday, April 24, 2019 - 8:30am to Friday, April 26, 2019 - 6:00pm

    The Spring 2019 National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) Meeting will be April 24-26 at the Renaissance Seattle Hotel in Seattle, WA. During meeting, NOSB listens to public comments, discusses agenda items, and then votes in a public forum. Detailed meeting information, including agendas, locations, proposals, and public comments will be posted below as it becomes available. All meetings are free and open to the public. For information on previous meetings, visit the NOSB meetings page.

    From Wednesday, April 16 to Friday, April 26, the NOSB will meet to discuss: substances petitioned for addition to or deletion from the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (National List), substances due to sunset from the National List in 2021, and guidance on the organic regulations. The Organic Trade Association’s Regulatory and Legislative staff (Gwendolyn Wyard, Megan DeBates and Johanna Mirenda) will be in attendance and providing oral comments. For more information, contact Johanna Mirenda.

    Meeting information:

    April 24 - 26
    Renaissance Seattle Hotel
    Seattle, WA

    Event Type: 
    Organic Industry Event
    The Spring 2019 National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) Meeting will be April 24-26 at the Renaissan...
  • May 20, 2019 to May 23, 2019
    Organic Week in Washington, D.C.

    Organic Week in Washington, D.C.

    Monday, May 20, 2019 - 9:00am to Thursday, May 23, 2019 - 3:00pm

    Experience the impact of organic – three great events in one powerful week.

    It’s time to double-down on big ideas and better solutions. In the backdrop of the nation’s capital, join us at the epicenter of culinary creativity for a collaborative event about the future of organic. We’ll explore leading-edge thinking, discuss bold strategies, and take incremental steps to advance policy and private sector solutions.

    The Organic Trade Association kicks off Organic Week in Washington, D.C. with Member Day on Monday, May 20, at our headquarters in the Hall of The States. On Tuesday, May 21, we will head to Capitol Hill for Advocacy Day to educate the nation’s top policymakers on the importance of organic. The week's activities will culminate with Conference Day in a unique new venue – Dock 5 – a creative urban space in the nexus of the bustling, historic Union Market. There, we will focus on bold ideas and critical conversations of consequence to our industry.

    Small organic producers to major growers, family-run organic operations to nationwide companies, researchers and policy advocates to distributors and retailers will come together to advance organic priorities. You can’t afford to miss this intimate offering of education, advocacy, and networking brought to you by the Organic Trade Association.

    Register now, or learn more about sponsorship opportunities. We hope to see you there! 

    Organic Week Schedule:

    Monday, May 20: Member Day [OTA members only]

    Tuesdays, May 21: Advocacy Day [OTA members only]

    Wednesday, May 22: Conference Day 

    Thursday, May 23: Board of Directors Meeting [open to members]

     

     

    Event Type: 
    OTA Hosted Event
    Experience the impact of organic – three great events in one powerful week. It’s time to double...
  • June 2, 2019 to June 5, 2019
    IFT Annual Meeting and Food Expo

    IFT Annual Meeting and Food Expo

    Sunday, June 2, 2019 - 8:00am to Wednesday, June 5, 2019 - 5:00pm

    The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) Annual Meeting and Food Expo will be taking place in New Orleans, LA June 2-5, 2019. This is one of the largest events of its kind bringing together science of food professionals from around the globe representing all segments of the science of food profession—research and design, ingredients, safety and quality, technology, equipment, processing, packaging, manufacturing, suppliers and buyers, policy makers, and academics—all converging with the intention to inspire and transform collective knowledge into innovative solutions to help advance our planet’s food safety, nutrition, and sustainability.

    The Organic Center's Director of Science Programs will be leading the following session at the Expo: 

    Climate Action for a Secure Food System | June 4, 2019 | 1:45p.m. 
    The food system is in an interesting predicament—it's a significant contributor to one of its own biggest threats—climate change.  Poor land-management is degrading our soil, releasing greenhouse gases, and bringing about catastrophic events such as droughts, floods, fires, among others. Farmers and food industry members are deeply vulnerable to the disasters brought on by climate change, but the level to which they implement or encourage climate-friendly practices is dependent on multiple competing factors, many of which will differ in importance based on the size of the company or farm, its geographic location, the commodities being produced, and current policies and government incentives. This session will challenge the current thinking on climate mitigation with the understanding that multiple sectors and food system pathways must come together to make headway on this global issue. We will hear from stakeholders with diverse food system experience, from scientists to farmers to industry members, to provoke a better understanding of how large-scale, inter-disciplinary collaborations are needed address climate change and its impact on our food security.  We will include cutting-edge innovations from the organic industry, which has been focusing its resources on climate mitigation and adaptation, to understand how these experiences and lessons can be used as a learning tool to advance climate-friendly techniques across sectors.

    Meeting Information:

    June 2-5, 2019

    Ernest N. Morial Convention Center

    New Orleans, LA 

    Event Type: 
    Organic Industry Event
    The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) Annual Meeting and Food Expo will be taking place in New O...

The Canada Organic Trade Association promotes the organic sector, educates the public and protects organic product integrity. COTA raises public awareness of the diverse Canadian organic industry through initiatives like national Organic Week and the Think Before You Eat consumer campaign. Member participation ensures that COTA will continue to be a strong voice for organic—to governments, consumers and the media.

The Organic Center is a trusted, go-to source of information for scientific research about organic food and farming. As a non-profit research and education organization, The Center covers up-to-date studies on sustainable agriculture and health, and collaborates with academic and governmental institutions to fill gaps in the current knowledge base about the many benefits of organic food and farming.

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FIND OTA ONLINE
REASONS TO JOIN OTA

JOIN OTA to receive the information you need to run your organic business.

JOIN OTA to add your voice to the growing number of companies who are shaping the future of the organic products industry.

JOIN OTA to show your support for the only trade association excusively dedicated to promoting and protecting organic standards and organic trade.

CONTACT OTA
Headquarters | Washington, D.C.
444 N. Capitol St. NW, Suite 445A
Washington D.C. 20001
T: 202-403-8520
 
Member Services | Vermont
28 Vernon St, Suite 413
Brattleboro VT, 05301
T: (202) 403-8630 
 
Canada Organic Trade Association
Suite 210-4 Florence Street
Ottawa, ON K2P 0W7
T: 613.482.1717
F: 613-482-2920