Fifteen Organic Trade Association members traveled to Washington, D.C., for OTA’s annual Winter Fly-In, participating in three days of advocacy meetings with Congress and federal agencies to advance policies that strengthen the U.S. organic sector.
Participating companies included Niman Ranch, Stonyfield, JBS, Whole Foods Market, Painterland Sisters, PA Organic, Applegate, Organic Valley, Handsome Brook Farm, Mondelez, Aurora Organic Dairy, Nature’s Path, and Ferrara—representing a broad cross-section of the organic value chain, from dairy and meat producers to retailers, certifiers, and packaged goods brands.
Over the course of three days, OTA members held 19 meetings with congressional offices in both the House and Senate, as well as officials at USDA and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Key Policy Priorities
During meetings, OTA members focused on advancing two major legislative initiatives:
Domestic Organic Investment Act (DOIA)
Fly-in participants urged lawmakers to support and cosponsor the Domestic Organic Investment Act, which would establish a new USDA grant program to strengthen domestic organic infrastructure.
The legislation would help expand storage, processing, aggregation, and distribution capacity for U.S.-grown organic products—addressing supply chain bottlenecks and reducing reliance on imports. In 2024, U.S. organic sales reached $71.6 billion, while organic imports surpassed $5.7 billion
DOIA is designed to ensure that growing consumer demand for organic is met by American farmers and businesses.
Domestic Organic Investment Act (DOIA) one-pager
Risk-Based Oversight for Integrity Act
Although not yet introduced, OTA also educated offices about the Risk-Based Oversight for Integrity Act, legislation aimed at modernizing USDA’s organic oversight system.
Currently, organic operations face uniform oversight requirements regardless of risk level—contributing to unnecessary administrative burdens without improving integrity. Since 2020, certified organic operations in the U.S. have declined by 10.4 percent for crops and 6.2 percent for livestock
The proposed legislation would direct USDA to implement risk-based oversight—maintaining strong enforcement where risk is highest while reducing unnecessary burdens for lower-risk domestic operations
The goal is to preserve organic integrity while keeping certification accessible and strengthening the domestic organic sector.
Risk-Based Oversight for Integrity Act One-Pager
FY27 Appropriations Priorities
In addition to authorizing legislation, OTA shared its FY27 appropriations priorities, emphasizing:
Funding for the Domestic Organic Investment Act
Ensuring robust funding for the National Organic Program
Protecting investments in data collection, organic research, and anti-fraud efforts
These priorities are critical to supporting farmers transitioning to organic, maintaining consumer trust in the USDA Organic seal, and building long-term resilience in the U.S. organic supply chain.
Organic and the MAHA Movement
OTA members also highlighted that organic agriculture aligns naturally with the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement. With its emphasis on health, pesticide-free production, soil stewardship, and high-quality protein, organic offers a market-driven solution that meets consumer demand while strengthening American agriculture.
Positive Engagement on Capitol Hill
Overall, OTA members reported positive and productive conversations. Lawmakers and agency staff expressed interest in strengthening domestic organic production, improving oversight efficiency, and ensuring that organic remains accessible, credible, and competitive.
The Winter Fly-In once again demonstrated the power of unified industry advocacy—bringing farmers, brands, retailers, and stakeholders together to ensure that organic continues to grow and thrive in the United States.