OTA Members

A message from Uncle Matt
My roots run deep in Florida. As a fourth-generation citrus grower and a real-life uncle to ten nieces and nephews plus, father of two beautiful daughters, I ventured into the juice business with one goal: to fuel families with uncompromised nutrition.

On three acres in my dad Benny’s backyard, my family began growing oranges without harmful synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Why? Because organic makes the most sense for you, me and the planet. Healthy soil means a healthy tree and even healthier fruit. If you ask my dad, my childhood summers spent working on the citrus groves was time well spent. Little did I know at the time that it would be a catalyst for launching Uncle Matt’s Organic in 1999.

More than two decades later, we’re busier than ever helping a new generation flourish through sustainable organic farming. It’s still a family affair around here too. My wife, Susan is at the helm of product innovation and marketing, while my father and brother, Ben McLean, oversee our grower and community relations.

Benny and Ben have spent the better part of the past decade trying to solve the citrus greening disease that has devastated Florida’s citrus industry. Sadly, Florida is ground zero for the epidemic, which in turn makes it the best place for running field trials. Everyone at Uncle Matt’s is dedicated to finding citrus greening remedies that will alleviate the heavy burden Florida farmers are facing and we’ve already made promising strides towards finding a cure. In fact, each morning, my father walks barefoot in our experimental groves to stay “grounded” and optimistic.

Because of my expert lineage of agronomists and long-term partnerships with farmers who share our values, Uncle Matt’s Organic is now the best-selling organic orange juice in the nation. Powered by 100% organically grown fruit that’s free from harmful chemicals, we’re also proud to be the first juice company in the US to be certified Glyphosate (RoundUp) Residue Free. So, take comfort in knowing that when you bring home our organic goodness, you’re feeding your family with the healthiest juice under the sun!

After working 22 years in sales of industrial fruit ingredients, Dave Olsen created Unique Ingredients in 1997. Initially formed to promote the high quality dried apple products manufactured by our partner, Surfrut, in Chile, Unique Ingredients has since expanded its product line to include a wide array of fruits from all corners of the world. The growth of Unique Ingredients is a direct response to listening to customers, discovering their needs, and finding a way to fill those needs. While no company can do it all, our philosophy is, “If there’s a real need for a fruit ingredient, let’s find a solution.”

The Unique Ingredients team has grown as well. Our staff has over 100 years of combined experience in industrial ingredients. We take a personal approach to customer service. The trend today for many companies is toward less human contact with automated telephone systems and emails. We prefer personal contact via phone and customer visits providing the expertise that is needed to launch your new idea.

Unique Ingredients’ aim is to provide a flexible “user-friendly” way of purchasing fruit ingredients. Providing quality service and quality products are an absolute requirement to our success. We hope you will give us an opportunity to demonstrate our service to you and your business. Our success depends on yours.

Unique Ingredients is committed to providing our customers a safe and reliable source of ingredients. We accomplish this by physically going on-site to each manufacturing location several times per year, verifying that the ingredients we sell meet Unique Ingredients' high quality and food safety standards.

United Cocoa Processor, Inc. (UCP) is a manufacturer of high-quality cocoa products. In our state-of-the-art, 94,000 square foot facility, we process conventional and organic grade cocoa beans from around the world into the highest quality cocoa products. We are certified organic for the USA’s NOP and EU’s EEC 2092/91 programs. We have been in business for over fifteen years and have an excellent track record of quality and customer satisfaction. We provide direct sale of goods as well as industrialization services (tolling) for high-volume (200 MT and above) customers.

The UC Organic Agriculture Institute helps organic growers and stakeholders to optimize organic production systems to be economically viable, agronomically efficient, and ecologically resilient by creating and supporting effective, adaptive, and inclusive institutions to provide research, extension, education, and policy expertise to accelerate organic agriculture in California.

In 1993, US Durum Products Ltd. (also known as ‘USDP’) became the first couscous manufacturer in North America. Located in the city of Lancaster in Pennsylvania, USDP is proud to be a family owned and operated business. Thanks to its strong work ethic and its high quality products, US Durum was able to grow their product offering into a symphony of delectable couscous, short-cut pasta, quinoa, rice, and Mediterranean blends.

To this day, US Durum maintains its position as the largest couscous manufacturing facility in North America.

US Nisshin Shokai is a USA-based trading company that specializes in meeting the demand for safe and secure non-GMO soybean ingredients. Our focus is to partner with identity-preserved non-GMO soybean suppliers and processors in the United States and Canada, and deliver optimized products to Asian food manufacturing companies. From supplier to food manufacturer, US Nisshin Shokai manages the complete supply chain management process.

Sourthern California organic grower offers fresh organic vegetables.

Vallaeys Consulting LLC is dedicated to catalyzing the continued growth and unlocking the full potential of the organic sector by strategically addressing systemic barriers and driving impactful solutions. With two decades of expertise interweaving agricultural science, food policy advocacy, corporate engagement, and applied ethics, Charlotte Vallaeys empowers organizations to navigate complex challenges and develop lasting solutions for a more resilient and sustainable food future.

VerMints all natural breath mints and pastilles are produced using certified organic ingredients. They are Kosher certified and contain absolutely no animal byproducts, artificial flavorings or colorings. The Vegan friendly and gluten free flavors packaged in the "eye catching" tins provide a healthy alternative. VerMints are now offered in six full bodied flavors - Peppermint, Wintermint, Gingermint, Chai, Cafe and Cinnamint.

For nearly a quarter century Vermont Soap has been an organic personal care products pioneer bringing to market the first USDA organic shower gel, foamer soap, spray cleaner, pet shampoo, stick deodorant (and more). We sell under our brand, co-pack and sell in bulk to other businesses. Our mission is to replace yucky stuff with yummy stuff.

Vermont is known for its maple syrup, its mountains, and now its soap. Vermont Country Soap Corporation makes a wide variety of organic cleaning options, including natural bar and liquid soaps, bath and shower gels, pet shampoo, and yoga mat wash. Additionally, the company sells bath accessories, such as incense, loofahs, nail brushes, pumice stones, and soap dishes. Each year, the company manufactures approximately 1 million bars of soap, which are sold to retailers across the US and in Japan. Vermont Country Soap also makes soap in custom blends for private labels. The company expanded its products portfolio in 2008 to include organic pet shampoos.

Versatile Products and Ingredients, LLC believes in providing only the freshest, high-quality and most cost effective ingredients mother nature can provide. We are dedicated to serving our customers needs and represent manufacturers world wide, as we search for the best ingredients second to none. Drawing upon the extensive experience and insight of our team, VPI is lead by veterans and experts in the food industry. Our team is uniquely qualified, bringing rich talent and extensive knowledge to create a dynamic product offering for our clients.

Vilicus Farms officially started from scratch in 2009 when Doug and Anna purchased 1,280 acres of Northern Great Plains prairie off the open market with 20 years of savings and lots of hutzpah. The vision for Vilicus began years earlier when Doug, whose family’s grain farm in Ohio had been lost in the farm crisis of the 1980’s, began looking for a viable way to return to farming. Without the existence of a traditional family farm base, options were limited. In 2005, Doug and Anna recognized the emerging opportunities in the organic market and began drafting their vision of a model organic farm that would push the boundaries of conservation and sustainability.

Anna and Doug developed the vision for Vilicus Farms over 30-plus years of involvement in and observation of North American agriculture. The name, Vilicus Farms, was chosen thoughtfully. In Latin, there are two words for the English term “farmer.” The first, agricola, refers to one who labors on the land. Agricolae were essentially farm-laborers who were often slaves in ancient Rome. The other term, vilicus, is literally translated “steward of the land.” A vilicus was the overseer of a Roman estate, who managed the land, facilities, and staff with an emphasis on maintaining the long-term productivity of the land. While vilici were often freed-slaves, they were held in high regard by the landowners and by Roman society.

Virginia Dare is a leading manufacturer of premium vanilla products; highest quality tea, coffee and cocoa concentrates; and a uniquely varied line of natural, organic and organic compliant flavors (liquid and dry) for a broad spectrum of natural and organic food and beverage applications as well as pharmaceuticals and oral care.

At Vital Farms we work everyday to produce pasture-raised, USDA Certified Organic eggs. For us, this begins and ends with providing the healthiest and most natural environment for our birds. You won’t see any cages on our farms, but you will see birds living like birds should – grazing on organic green pasture and enjoying plenty of space and fresh air.
There are many elements we consider vital to our methods: organic green pastures, multiple native grasses, herbs, seeds, and other natural foliage, top quality organic feed, plenty of fresh water, relatively small flock sizes, lots of space to roam and forage, protection for the birds, shelter from inclement weather, and a personal attentiveness to the birds’ welfare!
Knowing that we provide people with a true superfood in a way that is respectful of land, animal, and everyone involved in the process, is very rewarding.

Seed producer.
Vitalis Organic Seeds offers a broad assortment of quality organic seed to field, high tunnel and heated greenhouse producers in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Vitalis was founded in 1994, and developed a joint partnership with Enza Zaden in 1998. Vitalis has developed a selection of organic seed varieties that meet the needs of the North American produce market and perform well in organic production systems. Our varietal material is continuously screened by Vitalis’ dealer network and at the Enza Zaden research stations in Florida, California and Culisian, Mexico. Vitalis’ varieties are bred or selected in organic systems, which allows for the development of varieties best suited for the unique needs of organic vegetable and herb farmers.

Started in 1988, the USDA-accredited WSDA Organic Food Program upholds the integrity of the organic label through certification and inspection of organic crop and livestock producers, processors, handlers and retailers. WSDA, the oldest and largest state certification agency in the country, is entirely fee-funded and currently certifies over 1,100 organic clients and registers 750 material inputs for organic production.

Waymouth Farms aims to please mouths and minds with health-conscious snacks. The company manufactures dried fruit, nuts, seeds, trail mixes, and other snacks under the Good Sense, Popzels, Fruitmates, GoodNiks, Omega Munchies, and Snack 'n Veggies brands. It also makes Salad Pizazz toppings and pretzel-shaped fruit snacks sold under the Fruitzels name. The company uses more than 20 different kinds of fruits in order to make its snack offerings. Founded in 1976, Waymouth Farms sells its products mostly through grocery stores and other retailers throughout the US, as well as overseas.

PACT is all about super soft clothes and putting people first. All PACT apparel is sweatshop free, ethically produced, and part of a movement transforming the way apparel is made. Sure they're (comfy, amazing) clothes, but they're more than clothes. They're an impetus for the best kind of change. PACT is led by Brendan Synnott, the founder of iconic natural food brands Bear Naked Granola and EVOL Frozen Foods.

Wedderspoon Manuka honey is born. Set against a backdrop of awe-inspiring mountain ranges and the crystal waters of Lake Wakatipu, cheerful stacks of rainbow-hued hives are home to a living heritage of brilliant bees.

Proud stewards of New Zealand’s 150-year apiary tradition, our master beekeepers champion a sustainable, bee-first ecology & gentle harvest, allowing our precious pollinators to work as Mother Nature intended. The legacy of our mission lives on today in products that celebrate Manuka honey in its most perfect, least processed state: a rare gift, brimming with nourishment.

Our commitment to comprehensive manuka honey integrity is rooted in the foundation on which we started our company - our goal is and has always been to bring the gift of Manuka honey to our friends, families, and neighbors. This spirit of sharing is carried through in our core values as a company--what secrets Mother Nature allows us to receive, we share with you.

We hope our Manuka honey wellness products serve you and your family as simple ways to honor your health, no matter when, where, or with whom you share them!

Over the past 89 years, Weleda has established the highest standards for gathering, processing, and preparing every ingredient used. The results are natural personal care products and medicines known worldwide for their integrity and healthful attributes.