Press Releases

Consumers recognize the USDA Organic seal more than any other certification in the marketplace, finds a new survey released by the Organic Trade Association (OTA).  

Washington, D.C.  — The Organic Trade Association commends Congress for passing the latest continuing resolution bill, which authorizes funding to enable the U.S. Department of Agriculture to continue operating. Keeping USDA open and running is vital for our farmers and other OTA business members. The programs that farmers depend on for their operations stop when USDA funding stops.

Washington, D.C.  — The USDA announced today the award of $9.75 million to ten projects through its Organic Market Development Grant (OMDG) program. This is the first wave of funding for a committed $75 million in 2023 allocation.

The Organic Trade Association strongly supports the Organic Dairy Data Collection Act, HR 6937, legislation introduced by Reps.

Washington, D.C.  — The Organic Trade Association (OTA) is pleased to announce it has received more than a million dollars in funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Market Access Program (MAP) to promote U.S. organic products around the world in 2024. 

Washington, D.C. — The Organic Trade Association (OTA) is thrilled to announce the new leadership team of co-CEOs Tom Chapman and Matthew Dillon. Reflecting the expanding vision of the trade association and the increasing opportunities and potential in the organic sector, Chapman and Dillon will combine their deep sets of expertise and seasoned perspectives to continue to push organic forward.

Late last night Congress passed a bipartisan one-year extension of the 2018 Farm Bill. The extension safeguards agricultural programs critical for organic, such as the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) which received baseline funding in the 2018 Farm Bill.

Washington, D.C. — The Organic Trade Association (OTA) celebrated today the strengthening of organic animal welfare standards by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), saying the long-awaited action by the department was a major win for producers and consumers who have steadily advocated for the more robust regulations.  

The Organic Trade Association issued the following statement in response to PoliticoPro's article, "Watchdog: USDA's organic imports certification process allowing vast fraud" published on October 17.  

Washington, D.C.  — The Organic Trade Association applauds the introduction of critical bipartisan legislation in Congress to ensure organic standards continuously evolve and improve, and to hold the federal government accountable for keeping up with the needs and expectations of the dynamic organic marketplace.