Public Servant Award

The Organic Trade Association Public Servant Award was established in 2009 to recognize and honor individuals in government who have been supportive of organic agriculture and trade. The award is presented at OTA’s Policy Conference and Hill Visit Days in Washington, D.C. 

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Congressman Dan Newhouse and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree

2019 Organic Champions

The Organic Trade Association’s Organic Champion Award recognizes and honors individuals in government who have been supportive of organic agriculture and trade. Recipients are chosen upon the recommendation of trade association staff, and then voted on by the Board of Directors. This year, Newhouse and Pingree were selected for their collaborative efforts to advance organic in the 2018 Farm Bill and through their work on annual appropriations legislation that funds the National Organic Program and organic transitions research program.

Although Congressman Newhouse of the state of Washington and Congresswoman Pingree of Maine come from opposite sides of the country and serve in different political parties, they have a lot in common. Both are farmers. They currently serve as co-chairs of the House Organic Caucus, and have been strong leaders in advancing organic policy on Capitol Hill. Both have served on the Agriculture Committee, and currently serve on the Appropriations Committee together.

“It is an honor to be named an Organic Champion with my colleague, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree,” said Rep. Newhouse. “Washington’s organic agriculture greatly contributes to the economies of both our state and our nation. I am proud to have a partner in Chellie who understands the importance of strong, bipartisan support for one of the fastest-growing sectors of agriculture.”

“I feel honored to receive the 2019 Organic Champion Award, especially next to my colleague Congressman Dan Newhouse,” said Rep. Pingree. “I’ve been an organic farmer for more than 40 years, and my experiences deeply influence my policy views. I see it as my job to advocate for policies that support promising market opportunities for farmers, including in the organic sector. Congressman Newhouse and I see beyond party lines when it comes to supporting organic farmers across our country.”

Their joint introduction of the Organic Agriculture Research Act of 2018 led to permanent baseline funding for OREI, more than double the current funding for organic research. This historic investment in organic research was one of the biggest victories for organic in any farm bill ever.

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Congressman Rodney Davis

2018 Organic Champion Award Honoree

Congressman Rodney Davis (R-IL) was awarded OTA's 2018 Organic Champion Award for his excellence in advancing organic agriculture through public service. Congressman Davis has been a lead advocate for the organic industry at a critical time, ensuring that the next Farm Bill advances and supports organic agriculture and moves the industry forward. Under his leadership as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture and Research of the House Agriculture Committee which has jurisdiction of organic agriculture, the 2018 Committee- passed Farm Bill contained the industry’s top priorities, including increased oversight over organic imports, the first funding increase for organic research in a decade, and full funding for organic data and market collection.

“I have many organic farms and farmers in my district and my amendment to the Farm Bill increases protections for their products by ensuring the National Organic Standards Board can do its job effectively. Additionally, the Farm Bill places higher scrutiny on organic imports to ensure the products consumers are purchasing are actually organic. I am honored to receive this award and I will continue to fight for organic integrity in our markets.”
                             --Congressman Rodney Davis at OTA's 2018 Policy Conference

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Senator Jeff Merkley

2016 Public Servant Award Honoree

“We want you to be successful and we want you to grow the economy as well as grow your products and make your product.” Stabenow told the attendees of the policy conference, who represented the entire swath of the diverse organic industry. “I believe we will have a strong economy with the success of your industry.” 
                                --Senator Debbie Stabenow at OTA's 2014 Policy Conference

“OTA’s Board of Directors is honored to recognize Congressman Sam Farr with OTA’s Public Servant Award for his unwavering support and advocacy for organic farmers and the organic sector.”  
                           --Melody Meyer, Vice President of Global Initiatives for UNFI  

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Senator Sherrod Brown

Senator Sherrod Brown, a first-term Democrat from Ohio, received OTA’s highest award for a public servant in 2011 for playing a key role in OTA’s legislative successes during 2010. Senator Brown sponsored the Organic Pilot Program, added to the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act by the Senate Agriculture Committee without opposition. This program authorizes $10 million for competitive grants for schools to incorporate organic foods in their meal offerings. Additionally, he and his staff worked to ensure that organic interests were included in the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act. Specifically, he included an amendment to the traceability and record-keeping section of the bill to allow for food directly marketed from farmers to consumers or to grocery stores and food labeled with the identity of the farm which produced it. That amendment also prevents FDA from requiring any farm to keep records beyond the first point of sale when the product leaves the farm, except when farms co-mingle product from multiple farms.

Rep. Collin Peterson (MN-7), former chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, received OTA’s highest award for a public servant in 2010. Congressman Peterson was recognized in large part for championing the organic provisions developed by OTA for inclusion in the 2008 Farm Bill. These provisions supported the growth of domestic organic agriculture through funding for research, data collection, and cost-share certification, as well as for additional money for the National Organic Program.

 

OTA was truly excited at this opportunity to honor Congressman Peterson for his assistance in growing this sector of our nation’s food supply. He has been a strong supporter of organic agriculture, and played a vital role in shaping the 2008 Farm Bill to give organic the largest gains, both in mandatory and discretionary spending, that it has ever gotten.

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