Main Menu New

Home > Become a Member

Become a Member

The Organic Trade Association is a membership-based organization for the organic industry. We ensure that all parts along the organic value chain have a strong voice with government and the public. We bring farmers, processors, distributors, retailers and others together to promote and protect the growing organic sector. Members also receive the latest information and quick answers on organic regulations and standards in the U.S. and around the world.
 
The single most effective way you can address the range of critical issues facing your organic business is by joining the Organic Trade Association. OTA has promoted and protected the organic business community for thirty years. We have the strategic know-how to address issues effectively, both large and small, that impact your bottom line.  
 

How to Get More from Organic

Who do you turn to when you need expert industry guidance? How do you stay current on the ever-changing organic rules and regulations? How do you tackle problems that are bigger than your business alone? The Organic Trade Association can help you get more from organic.

We are stronger together.

The organic industry’s total is greater and more influential than the sum of our parts. By joining OTA, you can amplify your voice with the strength of the entire membership to shape the future of organic. With your participation, we can ensure a thriving, diverse, collaborative, organic trade and community.

OTA works for you.  

The Organic Trade Association works to create a strong, valued, and equitable organic brand by protecting the USDA Organic seal and developing a marketplace where our diverse members can flourish. We help protect and grow your businesses.  

The single most effective way you can address the range of critical issues facing your organic business is by joining OTA. We have worked to strengthen the organic business community for thirty years and have the strategic know-how to address issues that impact your bottom line, both large and small.  

 

 
List
no

Green

Main color: 
#005751
Hover: 
#006760
Active: 
#acce48
Title: 
#ffffff
Title Hover: 
#acce48
Title Active: 
#004e49
377
Member Benefits

OTA membership offers an investment with high returns:

  • Participate in OTA Task Forces, Sector Councils, and Member Forums to influence, get informed, network, and collaborate with other organic businesses.
  • Get expert guidance and one-on-one support on organic regulatory issues, government affairs, global trade, and marketing trends related to your business.
  • Receive timely and vital updates to stay informed on changes to the U.S. organic standards and National List and stay up to date on activities and developments at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and National Organic Standards Board (NOSB).
  • Directly influence elected officials and policymakers by advocating for organic priorities on Capitol Hill.
  • Watch live and recorded webinars on the latest topics and trends relevant to organic businesses.
  • Download the latest market research to develop your business strategy and promote the benefits of organic to your customers.
  • Receive exclusive marketing tools and directory listings to increase your visibility with customers and suppliers.
  • Access international distribution channels through OTA’s global market programs and trade missions.

Member Communities: Collectively solving organic’s critical issues.

OTA Member Forums, Sector Councils, and Task Forces encourage communication and collaboration among our diverse members so we can work collectively to address the issues impacting your unique business and sector.

 

Member-Exclusive Market Research & Resources

OTA is the premier source of information about organic. We provide members exclusive access to market data products on the size of the organic market, industry trends, and insights into the organic consumer.

Organic Industry Survey

The Organic Industry Survey is OTA’s flagship research product and has been the definitive source for business intelligence on the rapidly growing U.S. organic sector for more than 20 years. Each year, we provide our members with the most accurate and comprehensive quantitative picture of the organic industry available. The report includes organic food and non-food sales and growth figures, category data, trends, and forecasts for one of the fastest-growing sectors of agriculture. The Organic Industry Survey is available for purchase for non-members.

Learn More 

 

The Organic Market Basket

The Organic Market Basket is a data tool from OTA (powered by SPINS) that follows detailed sales trends for a collection of best-selling organic grocery store items. The quarterly snapshot reports sales statistics and price changes for various grocery store items for a glimpse into what’s happening in the U.S. retail food market today.

Learn More

 

Organic Opportunity Communications Toolkit

In 2020, OTA regulatory staff worked closely with Amazon to ensure that the USDA Organic seal was added as a recognized certification in its Climate-Pledge Friendly Initiative. That work launched the Advocating for Organic within National Retailers Sustainability Initiatives Task Force, which developed the Organic Opportunity Communications Toolkit. The toolkit is full of resources the industry can use to collectively advocate the benefits of organic to consumers, retailers, and the government alike.

Learn More

 

 

Advocating for your needs in D.C.

With a fast-changing marketplace, an evolving political climate, and ongoing consumer confusion, it is vital to be part of a strong trade association working proactively with USDA and Congress to defend and strengthen organic.

New standards update: Strengthening Organic Enforcement 

The Organic Trade Association works to protect the organic industry by advocating for strong organic regulations that safeguard consumer trust while ensuring new regulations are practical in application to limit the regulatory burden for our members.

Fraud cannot be tolerated in organic. Any amount of fraud in the organic system – wherever it occurs – harms the entire organic sector and threatens consumer trust. Thanks to OTA’s successful advocacy efforts with Congress and the Biden Administration, the new Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE) final rule will support the continued growth of the organic market by improving oversight at critical links in the supply chain to prevent fraud and protect the integrity of the USDA Organic seal.

All organic operations must be in compliance with the new rule by March 2024. As a service to our members, OTA’s expert regulatory team performed a comprehensive analysis of the 282-page rule to provide exclusive resources, trainings, and working sessions to support our members and the successful implementation of the regulations. Members and non-members alike can enroll in our Organic Fraud Prevention Solutions program for step-by-step guidance to develop and implement an organic fraud prevention plan as mandated by SOE.

Learn More

2023 Farm Bill

The Farm Bill is an omnibus legislation package renewed every five years. It sets the agenda for agriculture policy and spending for years to come and is critical to the success of the organic marketplace. With the Farm Bill due for reauthorization in 2023, OTA is putting in a tremendous effort to advocate for organic throughout the legislative process. Our Farm Bill policy priorities will ensure responsive, organic standards, thriving American farmers, and resilient organic supply chains.

We provide OTA members with legislative updates, lobby training, and coordinating visits to key Congressional offices so you can directly influence the organic priorities considered by D.C. lawmakers. OTA hosts industry roundtables, Farm Bill listening sessions, and in-district Congressional events and farm visits.

Learn More
 

OTA Political Action Committee (PAC)

A Political Action Committee (PAC) is a transparent, legal, and federally monitored way for trade associations like OTA to engage in the political process. OTA’s Organic PAC is our voice in Washington. The OTA Organic PAC is here for you and for our industry, to ensure that our elected leaders make organic food, fiber and farming a priority and an important part of our nation’s agriculture policy.

The Organic PAC is funded by pooling voluntary contributions from employees of OTA member companies. This allows us to leverage every donation into one strong fund for one very strong voice. With these funds, our Organic PAC board identifies political champions to support so that the organic industry can be heard and understood on the Hill. How effective we are depends on how willing elected officials are to understand our perspective. The Organic PAC helps us elect candidates who understand our point of view so that we won’t be shut out of issues affecting our industry. Rather than supporting along party lines, the Organic PAC is completely non-partisan. Instead, we look at where elected leaders stand on a variety of organic issues such as Farm Bill priorities, and how they vote on regulatory mandates. If they share our perspective, they get our support.

Learn More

 

Educational Opportunities and Events

Whether we’re bringing the latest news and trends about the organic industry to diverse audiences, sponsoring business networking gatherings, or hosting listening sessions to gather feedback from the sector, you can count on OTA to be part of the action.

Organic Week in Washington, D.C.

OTA hosts our flagship industry event, Organic Week, annually in Washington, D.C. Organic Week is a place of discovery, collaboration, and advocacy for farmers to retailers, and everyone in between looking to shape decisions that impact organic. The event provides an opportunity for member engagement, networking, and working groups, hosts a policy conference with informative sessions and keynotes discussing today’s critical organic issues and policy updates, and facilitates an advocacy day where members work in small teams to attend hundreds of pre-scheduled meetings across Capitol Hill advocating for organic priorities.

Learn more

 

Webinars

Since workflows and colleague collaboration leaned into digital engagement in 2020, OTA and our sister science organization, The Organic Center, have built a robust webinar program to educate and benefit our members. We keep you informed on the regulatory, scientific, and business conversations at the heart of organic.

Learn More

Organic Industry Events

OTA’s calendar is full of events organized or attended by the trade association. Some are signature OTA events hosted for members, while others are regional, national, or international conferences where OTA staff are featured as keynotes and panelists.

 

 

Promoting U.S. organic abroad and facilitating international trade

OTA supports international trade and strengthening global organic supply chains by promoting U.S. organic abroad and connecting members with global buyers and supply chains.

Connecting members with global supply chains

OTA is present each year at the world’s most promising, high-value international trade shows, promoting U.S. organic products and fostering global trade. We host U.S. organic producers and brands at our large, attractive exhibit as a cost-effective way for companies to reach global buyers and sellers. In addition to these international events, OTA members are given priority listing in our Find.Organic business directory. The directory is your source for information on organic products and services and is the go-to tool for forging links in the U.S. organic supply chain.

Learn More

Find.Organic

 

Global Organic Trade Guide

Interested in selling your organic products around the world? OTA’s Global Organic Trade Guide has all the resources you need to enter the global marketplace. The site includes country or region-specific information on international organic regulations and standards, special requirements for imported products and certification, and listings of the U.S.'s organic-specific trade agreements with foreign countries.

 

Learn More

Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Commitment

The Organic Trade Association accepts our social responsibility in helping shape a more inclusive agriculture future for the good of the organic market and our communities. We are committed to bringing into focus the social inequalities that have been allowed to lay blurry around of edges of the organic movement. To realize our vision, we must address the inequalities that prevent all people and communities from benefiting from organic farming and products.

Learn More

Diversity and Entrepreneurship Fund

In an effort to diversify our membership and include food justice organizations and influencers, we are extending complimentary membership to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) owned farms and businesses. OTA also hosts an “Ask Me Anything” webinar series that offer program participants an informal setting to engage with industry leaders and consultants on specific topics to support their success in the organic industry.

Learn more

Diversity Resource Library

Diversity Resource Library is a collection of resources that trade association members and the organic community at large can use to diversify their content, conferences, supply chains, and marketing efforts. Together, we can promote a broader awareness of people and places aligned with the ideals of the organic community.

Learn more

Diversity Council

Our Diversity Council convenes members from across industry sectors to work together to develop practices and processes that embed justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion into the fabric of OTA and the organic movement.

Learn more

The Organic Center

The Organic Center, OTA’s sister science organization, is THE trusted source of the science of organic farming and products. They convene credible, evidence-based science to fill knowledge gaps and support organic farmers and businesses.

The Center works collectively with stakeholders across the industry to advance organic by facilitating research, developing resources to promote the benefits of organic, and communicating the organic difference to consumers.

Learn More

no
column-1
30px
Join OTAIs your company based in Canada? Join COTA today


Contact
Contact OTA's membership team for more information about how joining OTA can help you grow your business and strengthen the organic sector.
 
Danielle Cote 
Associate Director, Member Engagement
(202) 524-3896

Become a Member