September marks annual world-wide recognition of organic's benefits
An organic grains farm in Montana offering first-of-a-kind Community Supported Stewardship Agriculture shares to support organic farm practices, a sustainable fashion company producing Billie Eilish T-shirts made from organic cotton being sold in Target stores nationwide, a leading organic certifier launching a financial assistance program that offsets certification costs, an organic granola maker in Canada partnering with food banks to develop organic granola available at cost to customers.
These are just a few of the creative and transformative organic initiatives underway by members of the Organic Trade Association (OTA) that the association is showcasing in its celebration of Organic Month in September. In its encompassing month-long campaign, OTA will share the stories of its organic champion members, highlight the benefits of choosing organic and raise awareness about organic agriculture.
“Organic month is a fantastic opportunity to promote the benefits and importance of organic farming and products, and to celebrate our commitment and dedication to organic,” said OTA Co-CEO Matthew Dillon. “We have a host of activities and outreach planned for our members and for any consumer who wants to support a movement that prioritizes health, environmental sustainability and ethical practices.”
“Our campaign encourages consumers to support organic products by highlighting their benefits for personal health, eco-friendly agriculture, and animal welfare,” said OTA Co-CEO Tom Chapman. “We want to inspire more people to choose organic, and in doing so, join our efforts to expand organic agriculture and organic production, and to make healthy, clean organic food accessible to all.”
The trade association is kicking off a social media campaign to highlight the innovative programs and practices underway by its members to increase organic production and boost the availability of organic to consumers. The association will be publishing newsletters throughout the month featuring organic initiatives and developments, and is making available to the public its deep library of organic resources, educational guides and promotional toolkits.
The U.S. organic market is now a nearly $70 billion market, posting a new record in dollar sales in 2023, according to OTA’s 2024 Organic Industry Survey. Organic sales have doubled over the past ten years, and organic food now accounts for six percent of the nation’s total retail food sales. The organic seal has stayed a stand-out with consumers, reflecting a growing consumer focus on personal and family health, sustainability, and a desire for clean products free from antibiotics, hormones, preservatives and dyes.
For more information on OTA’s activities during Organic Month, go here: https://www.ota.com/resources/organic-month
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About the Organic Trade Association
The Organic Trade Association (OTA) is the membership-based business association for organic agriculture and products in North America. OTA is the leading voice for the organic trade in the United States, representing more than 500 organic businesses across 50 states and 9,500 farmers through its Farmers Advisory Council. Its members include growers, shippers, processors, certifiers, farmers' associations, distributors, importers, exporters, consultants, retailers and others. OTA's Board of Directors is democratically elected by its members. OTA's mission is to promote and protect ORGANIC with a unifying voice that serves and engages its diverse members from farm to marketplace.