The Organic Trade Association's Public Servant / Organic Champion 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 Organic Week in Washington, D.C.
Under Secretary Jenny Lester Moffitt
2024 Organic Champion Award 
The Organic Trade Association’s Organic Champion Award recognizes and honors individuals in government who have been supportive of organic agriculture and trade. The esteemed honoree this year is the honorable Jenny Lester Moffitt, USDA’s Under Secretary of Marketing and Regulatory Programs, who has worked effectively within the organic community to encourage the sector’s input and consider organic priorities.
Under Secretary Moffitt grew up on a California Walnut Farm that transitioned to organic in 1989. She worked for the California Department of Food and Agriculture for many years, including serving as Under Secretary from 2018-21. She has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to addressing the challenges faced by organic farmers and producers. Her on-the-farm experience and leadership in both state and federal government have helped build partnerships to strengthen organic agriculture.
At USDA, Under Secretary Moffitt’s dedicated, knowledgeable, and compassionate leadership has fostered historic support for the National Organic Program, including the Transition to Organic Partnership Program and Organic Market Development Grants, as well as helped enable three key regulatory updates – Origin of Livestock, Organic Livestock and Poultry Standards and Strengthening of Organic Enforcement.
“As someone who grew up and worked on my family’s organic farm, this award means so much to me. I am honored to be recognized by the Organic Trade Association for the work I’ve done supporting organic agriculture and truly humbled by this acknowledgment,” says Under Secretary Moffitt. “I am proud of our efforts at USDA to advance organic integrity by strengthening organic standards and growing the organic sector through the Organic Transition Initiative. This award is a symbol of the great work we can do when government and the organic community come together.”
- Under Secretary Jenny Lester Moffitt
Congressman Peter DeFazio
2023 Organic Champion Award 
In 1990, then junior Congressmember Peter DeFazio (D-OR) did the unthinkable – he dug in his heels for a farm bill amendment that he knew was opposed by both the Chair and Ranking Member of the House Agriculture Committee. Against the odds, that amendment – the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA) – passed and the National Organic Program was born. Representative DeFazio would spend the next 30 years building on that bold act and cementing his place in history as an organic champion. The Organic Trade Association recognizes DeFazio with the 2022 Organic Champion award for his decades of leadership and support.
“I’m honored to receive the Organic Champion Award from the Organic Trade Association. In 1990, I was proud to author the bill that established the National Organic Program, which ensures that when consumers buy food labeled as organic, they can trust it truly is. Consumers know that when food has the USDA Organic label, it meets a high national standard. Over my time in Congress, I’ve continued my support of the organic industry by helping provide robust funding for federal programs as well as fighting to maintain the integrity of the organic label. I thank the Organic Trade Association for this award.”
- Congressman Peter DeFazio
Kelly Strzelecki
2022 Public Servant Award Honoree
Organic Trade Association recognizes Kelly Strzelecki for outstanding service to organic. The Organic Trade Association honored Kelly Strzelecki, Senior Trade Advisor for the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, with its 2021 Organic Public Servant Award in recognition of her outstanding efforts to promote and facilitate a meaningful public-private partnership for the organic industry through trade during her many years at USDA.
“Kelly has worked tirelessly through the years to expand organic exports and to create valuable new markets for our organic farmers and businesses. Kelly’s commitment to organic has made a real positive difference in enabling the organic sector to thrive and advance. Helped greatly by her stewardship over the past two decades, American organic exports now total close to $650 million every year, and consumers all over the world are benefitting. We are truly honored to be presenting this award to Kelly.”
- Laura Batcha, CEO and Executive Director of the Organic Trade Association
Congressman Dan Newhouse and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree
2020 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.
Congressman Rodney Davis
2019 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
Senator Jeff Merkley
2017 Public Servant Award Honoree
“What we see across America is a growing movement of people who want to be thoughtful about how they eat...they are voting more and more in favor of buying and consuming organic foods...I've been excited to help champion this effort.”
--Senator Jeff Merkley at OTA's 2016 Policy Conference
Senator Merkley also serves on the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee; the Environment and Public Works Committee; and the Budget Committee. He was elected to the Senate in 2008. Prior to becoming a United States Senator, he served in the Oregon State House of Representatives (including as Speaker).
Senator Debbie Stabenow
2015 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
Congressman Sam Farr
2013 Public Servant Award Honoree
“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
Senator Sherrod Brown
2012 Public Servant Award Honoree
Congressman Collin Peterson
2011 Public Servant Award Honoree