The Organic Trade Association (OTA) returned to Dubai in January to participate in Gulfood, the world’s largest annual food and beverage sourcing event. Spanning two mega venues—the Dubai World Trade Centre and the newly expanded Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City—this year’s show brought together thousands of exhibitors and buyers from across the global food system, representing both conventional and organic markets at unprecedented scale.
OTA’s presence at Gulfood reflects the association’s ongoing commitment to international engagement, export promotion, and relationship-building in key global markets. While organic products were part of a broader, largely conventional show floor, OTA’s participation created an important touchpoint for conversations around certified organic supply, U.S. production standards, and evolving global demand for high-quality, transparent food systems.
A U.S. Organic Hub Within a Global Marketplace
OTA hosted a shared booth featuring seven U.S. organic brands, providing a collective presence within a highly competitive and diverse international marketplace. The booth served as a meeting point for buyers, distributors, and trade partners seeking to better understand U.S. organic offerings alongside conventional alternatives.
Throughout the week, OTA and participating brands engaged in discussions around sourcing, private-label opportunities, ingredient applications, and export readiness—positioning U.S. organic as a differentiated option within a global food trade ecosystem dominated by scale, logistics, and price sensitivity.
Booth Spotlight: U.S. Organic Brands at Gulfood 2026
OTA’s booth showcased a cross-section of U.S. organic brands spanning consumer packaged goods, ingredients, and value-added products—demonstrating how organic fits into broader global sourcing conversations.
Participating brands included:
- Acme Organics Triple Crown BBQ Sauce – Flavor-forward sauces showcasing classic American profiles for global buyers.
- Ecuadorian Rainforest – Supplier of organic, sustainably sourced U.S. ingredients supporting international food and ingredient markets.
- Organic Valley – A leading U.S. organic dairy cooperative showcasing value-added milks, oat creamers, ghee and more
- PBfit – Better-for-you organic powdered peanut butter products offering versatility and protein-forward appeal for global consumers.
- Preferred Popcorn – Organic popcorn positioned for international retail, foodservice, and private-label sourcing.
- US Durum – Casbah Natural Foods value-added products highlighting U.S.-grown organic durum wheat in global grain and ingredient conversations.
- Wolfpak Brands – A portfolio of food brands which showcased Yellow Bird organic sauces and Big Easy Pop pre and probiotic soda Together, these brands illustrated how U.S. organic products can compete, complement, and add value within a global food marketplace that includes both conventional and certified offerings.
Market Intelligence & Global Trade Conversations
Beyond the booth, OTA staff used Gulfood as an opportunity to gather market intelligence and engage with international stakeholders across retail, foodservice, logistics, and ingredient supply chains. Conversations reflected the show’s broader themes—scale, speed, resilience, and traceability—while highlighting where organic certification intersects with global trends such as quality assurance, transparency, and consumer trust.
Gulfood’s massive footprint and international diversity reinforced the importance of strategic engagement for U.S. organic producers navigating complex global trade environments.
Looking Ahead
OTA’s participation in Gulfood 2026 supports its long-term international trade and market development strategy. Insights and connections from the show will help inform future export initiatives, trade missions, and global partnerships aimed at expanding opportunities for U.S. organic producers.
As the show continues through the end of the week, OTA will continue meeting with partners and gathering insights to ensure an accurate, grounded view of the evolving global food trade landscape.
Learn More
To learn more about the UAE market, and markets around the world, visit OTA’s Global Organic Trade Guide (LINK). For more information about OTA’s international trade initiatives, export engagement, and global market development efforts, please contact Sarah Gorman, International Trade Manager at the Organic Trade Association.
🌍 OTA looks forward to continuing conversations sparked at Gulfood and supporting U.S. organic companies navigating global markets.
