This September, the Organic Trade Association (OTA) marked a major milestone by hosting Organic Week 2025, bringing together 262 farmers, business leaders, and policymakers for three powerful days of collaboration, advocacy, and celebration. Held at the Park Hyatt in Washington, D.C., the event honored OTA’s 40th anniversary with the fitting theme: “Rooted in 40 Years, Growing for the Future.”
With U.S. organic sales hitting $71.6 billion in 2024, the organic sector is reaching new heights and building strong momentum. Organic Week provided an opportunity to reflect on four decades of growth while Members discussed strategies for the future. The conference emphasized the urgency of strengthening the domestic organic supply chain, improving organic infrastructure, and ensuring policy keeps pace with consumer demand for organic. OTA’s ongoing work through initiatives like the Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP) was highlighted as a critical effort to expand organic production, build farmer networks, and ensure a strong pipeline of future organic producers.
“Organic Week is a unique opportunity for our members and key stakeholders to connect and collaborate to continue to advance the sector,” said OTA Co-CEO Tom Chapman. “While organic is confronting some challenges, the sector also has untapped opportunities to educate today’s health-focused and environmentally conscious consumers about the full scope of organic’s benefits.”
A Movement 40 Years Strong
From its founding in 1985 to its role today as a membership-based advocacy organization, OTA has played a central part in shaping U.S. organic policy and overall industry growth. Over the past four decades, OTA has helped establish national organic standards, defend the trust and integrity of the USDA Organic label, and support farmers and businesses through rapid industry growth and changing political landscapes.
“Organic isn’t just an industry—it’s a movement,” said OTA Co-CEO Matthew Dillon. “Organic Week is where the people behind that movement come together, share ideas, and use their collective muscle to help drive organic forward.”
Throughout the conference, OTA’s new “Seal Makes It Simple” campaign was featured prominently. Launched in September 2025 as part of OTA’s 40th anniversary and Organic Month efforts, the Seal Makes It Simple is the flagship consumer‐ and retail‐focused initiative of OTA’s USDA Organic Market Development Grant (OMDG) project. This three-year, $4.4 million effort—funded through USDA’s Organic Transition Initiative—aims to expand consumer confidence and stimulate demand for organic products nationwide. The campaign promotes the benefits of the USDA Organic seal, through science-backed fact sheets, videos, graphics, advertising, and retail promotions, with a special emphasis on engaging specific regions of the US poised for growth in organic, including Atlanta, GA, Charlotte, NC, Indianapolis, IN, Louisville, KY, Lubbock, TX, and Tampa, FL.
DAY 1: Setting the Stage
Organic Week opened with a compelling fireside keynote between Sprouts Farmers Market CEO Jack Sinclair and OTA’s Matthew Dillon. Sinclair emphasized why organic remains a strategic priority for Sprouts, highlighting consumer demand, long-term sustainability, and trust in the USDA Organic label.
The day’s sessions ranged from global supply chain issues and the future of organic standards to retail strategies and generational shifts in consumer preferences.
A highlight for many was the palpable sense of community. “Organic Week feels like a cross between a family reunion and the first day of school,” reflected Marni Karlin, an organic advocate and former OTA staffer attending her 14th Organic Week. That evening, attendees gathered for OTA’s Annual Member Meeting and the Organic Leadership Awards Reception, honoring eight individuals whose leadership continues to shape a resilient, values-driven organic future.
Celebrating Organic Leadership
The 2025 Organic Leadership Awards honored individuals across the supply chain who exemplify innovation, resilience, and dedication to organic principles:
- Organic Champion: Russell Redding, Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture
- Organic Lifetime Achievement: Albert Straus, Straus Family Creamery
- Organic Lifetime Achievement: David Lively, Organically Grown Company
- Organic Farmers of the Year: Chris & Marcie Baugher, Baugher Ranch Organics
- Organic Environmental Leadership: Charlotte Vallaeys, Vallaeys Consulting LLC
- Organic Trailblazer: Nicole Atchison, PURIS
- Organic Social Impact: Tony Bedard, Frontier Co-op
These leaders are not only transforming their businesses—they’re elevating the entire movement.
DAY 2: Digging Deeper
The second day of the conference expanded on Day 1’s big-picture themes with sector-specific breakout sessions on grain, produce, dairy, poultry, and sugar. Industry stakeholders explored how to navigate certification challenges, labor shortages, infrastructure bottlenecks, and evolving global trade dynamics.
One timely issue was the growing concern over recent policy changes affecting organic sugar. “Making the case to USDA appointees about the severe negative impacts of these policy shifts—on consumers, farmers, manufacturers, and workers—was one of the most important conversations I had all week,” said Karlin.
Also on Day 2, Mondelēz International’s CLIF Bar brand sponsored the “Loop the Lincoln” 5K, which took participants around the National Mall for a morning of fresh air, fitness, and informal networking. Co-CEOs Tom Chapman and Matthew Dillon ran alongside OTA members, congressional staff, committee members, and media representatives. Throughout the day, sessions sparked real conversations—and real solutions.
A Platform for Connection and Collective Wisdom
From first-timers to longtime attendees, many described Organic Week 2025 as a place to build relationships that last far beyond the event.
For Vik Giri, CEO of Gallant International and a member of OTA for eight years, the event offered strategic value: “Organic Week brings together policymakers, retailers, and peers in one place. It’s where I get updated on policy and market trends, exchange ideas about organic agriculture, and build partnerships that support our shared work.”
The sense of community resonated across all corners of the event. Yoland Ouiya, co-founder of the Food + Equity Foundation, was attending her first Organic Week and appreciated the access and intimacy the 300-person gathering fostered. “What I enjoyed most was the strong sense of community, having close-knit access to others in the industry, the meaningful conversations, the ideas sparked from those connections, and some of the topics that were presented,” she said.
Jeff Tkach, CEO of the Rodale Institute, also a first-time attendee, was equally enthusiastic. “I LOVED it,” he said. “Rodale has been a member of OTA since its inception, and we have exciting partnership opportunities in the works. Organic Week provided an ideal platform for learning about industry trends and key data points.”
DAY 3: Turning Ideas into Action on Capitol Hill
The final day of Organic Week brought both OTA staff and conference attendees to Capitol Hill for OTA’s Advocacy Day, where members met with lawmakers and agency officials to champion policies that strengthen organic agriculture and markets.
With rising imports and supply chain constraints putting pressure on U.S. producers, OTA members urged Congressional leaders to support initiatives like the Domestic Organic Market Expansion (DOME) Act, expand funding for organic research, and address sector-specific concerns, such as the challenges facing organic dairy and sugar producers.
For Nathaniel Powell-Palm, an organic farmer, managing owner of Cold Springs, LLC, and eight-time attendee, the value of Organic Week lies in the convergence of stakeholders not often in the same room. “At Organic Week, it was inspiring sitting alongside farmers and policymakers—from the head of the National Organic Program to Senate staffers from our home state. As a farmer, it’s unique to share real challenges directly with those who can actually fix the problems—whether through policy action or business solutions.”
A United Future for Organic
Across three days and dozens of sessions, Organic Week 2025 proved that while the organic industry is diverse in its voices and challenges, it remains united in its mission. Attendees left the D.C. conference with new insights, stronger partnerships, and a deeper sense of purpose.
“Members are continuing to reach out with appreciation and exclamations that it was the best Organic Week they’ve ever attended,” said Dillon. “Right from the start, you could feel the excitement of our members, and it just kept growing through programming, leadership awards, and Advocacy Day.”
As the week wrapped up, one thing was clear: Organic Week is not just an annual event—it’s a catalyst. The connections made, the ideas exchanged, and the actions taken ripple throughout the year, moving the organic movement forward, together.
We’ll see you in 2026!
Check out some of the images from Organic Week 2025 here.
📅 Organic Week 2026
September 14–16, 2026 | Willard Intercontinental, Washington, D.C.
Organic Week is the premier gathering of organic stakeholders, advocates, and changemakers from across the supply chain. As we plan for 2026, we’re looking for passionate individuals and organizations who want to be part of the movement — from speaking and sponsoring, to hosting side events, showcasing products, and more.
👉 Sign up here to receive updates on Organic Week 2026 and let us know how you’d like to get involved. Whether you’re a seasoned advocate or new to the community, we’d love to hear from you!
Thank you to our 2025 Organic Week Sponsors
And to keep the energy high, OTA’s marketing team curated a special Organic Week 2025 Spotify Playlist—a fun soundtrack for the week and beyond.