OTA Members

Responding to double-digit growth in the fastest growing retail food category, the Organic Produce Network (OPN) was founded in January, 2017, to connect facets of the organic produce community through education, information and live events.

Produce industry veterans Matt Seeley, former vice president of marketing for The Nunes Company, and Tonya Antle, former vice president of organic sales for Earthbound Farm, are co-founders of the company.

OPN is being designed as the voice and go-to resource for all things related to organic produce. The company's mission is to inform and educate through a strong digital presence with an emphasis on original content, and complimented by engaging live events which bring together various components of the organic food community.

OPN is an informal online network providing critical and timely information such as news, updates, statistics and historical benchmarks to those in the organic fresh produce business. OPN will also provide live and online learning and networking opportunities. The OPN target audience is organic producers, handlers, distributors, processors, wholesalers, foodservice operators and retailers.

The OPN website and weekly digital newsletter OPN Connect will feature topical and relevant content related to organic fresh produce, with a special emphasis on thought-provoking commentary and analysis from leaders and influencers in the organic produce and food arena.

Seed is part of our common cultural heritage – a living, natural resource that demands careful management to meet food needs now and into the future. Organic Seed Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that advances ethical seed solutions to meet food and farming needs in a changing world.

Each year we educate thousands of farmers and other agricultural community members, conduct professional organic plant breeding and seed production research, and advocate for national policies that strengthen organic seed systems. Our most recent State of Organic Seed report (2016) is part of an ongoing project to monitor the status of organic seed nationally and provides a roadmap for increasing the diversity, quality, and integrity of organic seed available to US farmers.

OSA has a fifteen-year track record as the leading organic seed institution in the US.

Our staff knows the seed business. We also have extensive experience with development of producer enterprises and maintain close working relationships with cooperative and economic development support centers around the country. We can help with business start-up or with re-tooling existing businesses. Read about one success FFSC and OSA partner to Implement Decentralized Seed Production and Marketing System

Organic Services is an international strategy and management consultancy, specializing in organic food, sustainability, and development matters. Its services have an interdisciplinary focus.
Organic Services is a renowned expert for software-based audit, supply chain and quality management systems. Software includes »Check Organic« a platform to combat fraud – complemented by a Geographic Information System (GIS), »Group Integrity« for the administration of (internal) control systems for smallholder groups and companies with contract production as well as »Ecert Basic« the certification management system for small(er) certifiers.

Organic Spices Inc, uses a combination of the most cutting edge technologies, to ensure complete food safety, both by destroying all pathogens, and at the same time avoiding all forms of hazardous pesticides, fungicides and radiation. This protects your business, your customers and ultimately your bottom line, while allowing you to provide customers food products that meet even the most demanding expectations.

All of our methods, are completely compatible with the full USDA Organic standard, while managing to meet - or surpass - strict FDA regulated safety standards.

Our key technologies include: Steam Treated Spice and Heat Treated.

The Organic Trade Association (OTA) is the membership-based business association for the organic industry in North America. As the only trade association focusing exclusively on organic agriculture and its products, OTA stays on top of the latest issues and trends that affect organic trade and takes action as necessary on behalf of its members. OTA represents businesses across the organic supply chain and addresses all things organic, including food, fiber/textiles, personal care and pet products, and new sectors as they develop. Since its inception, the association has been a key player in shaping both the regulatory and market environment for organic products…

The Organic Trade Board (OTB) is a not for profit organization co-ordinated by business leaders from across the UK’s organic industry to develop, promote and support Organic Trade in the UK. Our vision is a network where businesses are openly able to trade, share information and utilise the resources available from other members of the organic community.

Organic Valley is the brand label for CROPP Cooperative, the largest organic cooperative in the USA. Working with nature is what inspired our original seven farmers to form an organic farming cooperative in 1988. Today our membership has grown to more than 1,800 family farms in 34 states, and our high standards shine through in our delicious, award-winning, certified organic foods.

Distribute and sell products made with organically grown vegetables, fruits and herbs to detox the body, weight loss, anti-aging organic skin care, organic food supplements. We educate people about the importance of detoxing our body of toxins including pesticides, synthetics, chemicals and now even radiation leakage.

At Organic Voices, we believe in trust.
Of course, trust must be earned. Thanks to tough federal organic standards, organic farmers and food companies have nothing to hide. It’s the positive notion of knowing exactly what you’re getting. We are a group of folks devoted to telling the story of organic agriculture and food production with the hope of instilling the peace of mind that going organic gives. Our aim is to cultivate a better understanding of what being organic really means and the environmental and health benefits choosing organic provides. We’re pretty passionate about it and hope you will be too!

Organically Grown Company is the largest distributor of organic produce in the Northwest. Frankly though, we never aspired to be the “biggest.” Mostly, we aspire to come to work every day and give a damn.

At the core of OGC is a simple idea that has held steady since the beginning: that organic agriculture is necessary for a healthy environment and healthy people.

Our goal is to support organic agriculture and help it thrive, by doing business in a way that is “good, clean and fair.”

That goes for our customers, our vendors, our employees, our community and our environment.

The vision of Organics Aotearoa New Zealand is to make the world more sustainable through organics. Our mission is to achieve excellence and endurance in organic agriculture and commerce and grow the organic sector in New Zealand. Our members act individually and work collectively to nurture and protect the environment and to enhance the wellbeing of New Zealanders.

OANZ provides leadership for our members to collaboratively work for organic policies that are good for the health of New Zealand’s people, communities, environment and economy. Our advocacy is focused on creating a world where people can easily access food and fibre devoid of harmful chemicals, grown in healthy soils that help regenerate the earth by sequestering carbon and combating climate change.

Distribution of organic bananas and other tropical fruit. In and out service in certified organic facility also available.

Established in 1980, Oregon Spice Company is dedicated to providing superior quality herbs, spices, and custom blends to food manufacturers and food service distributors. We pride ourselves in sourcing products that our customers can use with confidence and trust. We believe in partnerships.

Oregon Spice Company is a locally owned company. We are committed to being outstanding in all we do. A supportive and healthy work environment is of paramount importance. Our values are reflected in how we treat our team members, with the average length of employment close to a decade. We believe in teamwork.

Oregon Spice understands and honors the ability to contribute to the community. We believe in giving back.

OBI produces personal healthcare products.

There are many things a college can do with that much land, but Oxford knew the best way to use this generous gift: Create a working organic farm that could not only provide fresh produce for student dining but could also provide hands-on experience that cuts across many disciplines. The farm began operation in 2014 and quickly earned a spot on the list of the Top 30 Sustainable College-Run Farms. Much of the produce from the farm winds up on the plates of Oxford students. It is also sold at Emory University’s weekly farmers market and to local community members through a subscription service.

PA Flax Project is re-establishing the fiber flax industry in Pennsylvania, creating economic opportunity for farmers and manufacturers.

PA Flax Project is organizing farmers, creating infrastructure for processing, and making American linen possible again.
We’re preparing to plant ~30 acres of fiber flax this spring and have the first mechanized fiber flax harvest in Pennsylvania history this summer.

PA Flax is well on the way to achieving our goal of putting 4,000 acres annually of fiber flax into production in Pennsylvania and establishing the first cooperatively owned scutching mill in North America by 2028.

We welcome growers of all types. You can partner with PA Flax Project to grow a demonstration plot, work on research, or farm fiber flax at scale for profit. You do not need to be a member of our cooperative to begin growing flax with us.

At the age of 10, Emil Nemarnik was the only child in his family of 12 to immigrate to the United States from Italy. Emil began his produce career working in a grocery store to pay his way through college. While working at the store he met his future bride, Kathleen Spada. After graduating, he continued to work in the produce industry buying, selling and brokering produce until 1976 when the company he worked for was sold. At the age of 50 he was out of work with five children to support and unsure of what the future held. To make matters worse, Emil was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and told his mobility would quickly decline. Undaunted, Emil mortgaged his house, sold his car and found a bank that would lend him money. In 1977 his hard work paid off and Pacific Coast Fruit Company opened its doors as the smallest produce distributor in Portland with eight employees, five of which were family members. Since then, Pacific Coast Fruit Company has grown into one of the largest independently owned produce distributors in the Pacific Northwest. Today, Pacific Coast Fruit Company employs over 500 people spanning between two facilities – a 90,000 square foot warehouse and Fresh Cut center in Portland, Oregon, and a 83,000 square foot warehouse in Kent, Washington. The company remains family owned and operated by two of Emil and Kathleen’s children. With a third generation now entering the business, Pacific Coast Fruit Company is dedicated to continuing its legacy by providing the freshest produce from Farm to Family.

WHERE ARE WE LOCATED:
Pacific Coast Fruit Company has two facilities – a 90,000 square foot warehouse and Fresh Cut center in Portland, Oregon, and a 83,000 square foot warehouse in Seattle, Washington, both conveniently located along the I-5 corridor to serve the entire Northwest region.

WHO WE SERVE:
We service a wide variety of customers including retailers, wholesalers, processors, restaurants, and more. Our produce programs include robust USDA Organic, local Oregon and Washington, and Fresh Cut options and we are proud to provide our customers with the freshest and healthiest produce available.

WHAT SERVICES WE OFFER:
Our employees are expert food industry insiders and know how to tailor our services to meet your needs. We offer training on product handling as well as assistance in planning your specialty and seasonal programs. We believe we have the best customer service staff and they are available to help you seven days a week. Our goal is to not simply sell to our customers but offer them support every step of the way.

There isn’t a lot of mystery to the way we make our foods. We use ingredients we can pronounce. If they’re too hard to say, chances are you shouldn’t eat them. We use all-natural and organic ingredients from nearby farms. We keep our recipes simple. Because when nature is allowed to do its thing, our foods just taste better. Much like the slow cooking method, slow growing and ripening produces ingredients filled with possibility and flavor. By using wholesome, all-natural and organic ingredients, we can make great tasting foods that let the delicious taste of nature speak for itself.

Our farm is on 4 acres of land and we grow vegetables, fruit, herbs, and nursery plants. We sell to local restaurants, retail markets, and we have a busy farm stand located at the farm. We are certified organic by CCOF since 2000.
I am also a contract inspector for CCOF, OMRI, and other various organic certifiers.