Webinar Archive

COVID-19 Forums

Financial Stimulus Options and Cash Management Strategies

Presented April 7, 2020

As a result of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the Small Business Administration established several new programs designed to provide financial relief to small businesses, co-ops, non-profits and farms. Organic Trade Association members are invited to a free webinar and forum to learn more about the programs – including the new Paycheck Protection Program. The program will be held next Tuesday, April 7th at 2:00 Eastern. Who qualifies, how to access the funds, and more will be detailed by Michael Stein, an attorney on the U.S. House of Representatives Small Business Committee who helped draft the Act. We’ll also hear from Jewel Cornelius-Royer from the global accounting firm Marcum LLP about risk and cash management strategies for business.

Presenters:
Michael Stein, J.D., Counsel for the Small Business Committee, U.S. House of Representatives
Jewel Cornelius-Royer, CPA, Director of Managed Services and Consulting, Marcum LLP

Open to all

REGISTER

Member Benefit Series

Board of Directors Election Webinar: Meet the Candidates

Presented March 31, 2020

Organic Trade Association’s Board of Directors is democratically elected by its members – representing more than 9,500 organic businesses throughout all portions of the supply chain. Board elections are a unique opportunity for our members to decide – one vote per member organization – the future leaders of the organization. Join us for this interactive Webinar to learn more about the process, and meet the eight candidates vying for the five open seats.

Hosts:
Laura Batcha, Executive Director / CEO, Organic Trade Association
Ben Diesl, VP of Quality Assurance, Grimmway Farms / Cal-Organic

Available to OTA members only

REGISTER

Breakthrough Messaging for Organic Shoppers

Presented February 13, 2020

Through the GRO Organic industry funded initiative, OTA has recently completed a groundbreaking consumer messaging research project. The research, conducted through NMI, yielded a new level of understanding about today’s shoppers and the messaging they need to create or strengthen their commitment to organic. Those findings have been converted into a Consumer Messaging Toolkit available to the full membership community. Join us to hear the topline demographic findings, and learn about the most compelling ways to reach current and potential organic shoppers with your brand’s messaging. OTA members can register for the recording and slides by emailing Libby Mucciarone.

Presenter:
Angela Jagiello, Director of Education & Insights, Organic Trade Association

Available on demand to OTA members only

REGISTER

Getting the Most Out of Your OTA Membership

Presented June 12, 2019

If you've joined Organic Trade Association in the past year, or if it's been a while since you've engaged, you've come to the right place! During this fast paced webinar, we introduced you to the people and programs behind your trade association, so you can maximize your investment, and position your business for success.

Presenters:
Cassandra Christine, Director of Industry Relations, Membership, and Development, Organic Trade Association
Bob Kaake, Organic & Natural Technical Director, General Mills
Mark Squire, President, Good Earth Natural Foods

Available on demand to OTA members only

REGISTER

Meet Your Board of Directors at the Virtual Annual Meeting

Presented October 17, 2019

CEO / Executive Director Laura Batcha joined members of the Organic Trade Association's Board of Directors for a virtual follow up to our Annual Meeting. Attendees heard about the strategic priorities the Board of Directors set for the organization and met its newest members.

Presenters:
Laura Batcha, CEO / Executive Director, Organic Trade Association
Members of the Board of Directors

Available on demand to OTA members only

REGISTER

Top Ten Organic Headlines of 2019

Presented December 4, 2019

As 2019 came to an end, we reviewed the stories that made news in organic in 2019, the most compelling issues in the industry, and discussed tips and resources for representing organic and your brand accurately in the media. OTA members can access a copy of the recording by contacting Libby Mucciarone.

Presenters:
Bill Giebler, Content + Insights Director, New Hope Network
Maggie McNeil, Director of Media Relations, Organic Trade Association
Kelly Taveras, Digital Specialist, Organic Trade Association

Available on demand to OTA members only

REGISTER

Government Affairs Series

The 2018 Farm Bill Passed. Now What?

Presented February 12, 2019

The President recently signed a new farm bill into law. This historic legislation received overwhelming bipartisan support from Congress and included many important advancements for organic agriculture. Please join the Organic Trade Association for a webinar on the 2018 Farm Bill and its impacts for the organic sector. This webinar will include an overview of the organic provisions in the farm bill. We will explore other programs of importance to the organic sector contained in the bill, such as hemp, urban agriculture, and export development. We will also discuss the next steps on farm bill implementation, and identify questions, priorities, opportunities for engagement and answer your questions.

Presenters:
Megan DeBates, Director of Legislative Affairs and Coalitions, Organic Trade Association
Gwendolyn Wyard, Vice President, Regulatory and Technical Affairs, Organic Trade Association
Katie Naessens, Professional Staff, U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry

US Organic Grain – How to Keep It Growing

Presented February 28, 2019

Elizabeth Reaves of the Sustainable Food Lab and Jedediah Beach of FarmSmart will review the highlights of a new research paper published in partnership with the Organic Trade Association. We’ll provide an overview of the current state of organic grain production in the US, and identify the challenges and potential industry solutions needed to help farmers transition to organic and ensure long-term productivity and profitability for organic farmers to keep organic growing.

Presenters:
Johanna Mirenda, Farm Policy Director, Organic Trade Association
Elizabeth Reaves, Senior Program Director, Sustainable Food Laboratory
Jedediah Beach, Farmer, FarmSmart

Complimentary to OTA members

Not-yet member registrations: $149

REGISTER

NOSB Outlook for the Produce Community

Presented March 29, 2019

Join Organic Trade Association's regulatory team for a produce-focused briefing on the issues before the National Organic Standards Board at its spring meeting (Seattle April 24-26), and for the fall review cycle.

Presenters:
Johanna Mirenda, Farm Policy Director, Organic Trade Association
Lynn Coody, Organic Produce Wholesalers Coalition
Mike Dill, Organic Produce Wholesalers Coalition

Organic 101

Presented June 26, 2019

New to the organic industry? Learn the basics of what the organic label does (and doesn’t) mean, how it is enforced, and why it is the gold standard for food the world around.

Presenters:
Johanna Mirenda, Farm Policy Director, Organic Trade Association
Mike Dill, Food Safety & Compliance Manager, Organically Grown Company
Ann Marie Hourigan, Quality Standards Principal Advisor for Agricultural Programs, Whole Foods Market
Nate Powell-Palm, Farmer/Rancher, Cold Springs Organics

Complimentary to OTA Members

Not-yet member registration: $149

REGISTER

Organic 101 for the Produce Community

Presented March 18, 2020

New to the organic industry? Join us to learn the basics of what the organic label does (and doesn't) mean for the produce sector, how it is enforced, and why it is the gold standard for food around the world. This session will examine the full supply chain – from farming, to post-harvest handling and transportation to retail receiving and merchandising for produce. We will discuss organic regulations, as well as best practices that have been proven most successful with retailers and shoppers.

Presenters:
Brian Dey, Sr. Merchandiser & Natural Stores Coordinator, Four Seasons Produce
Mike Dill, Food Safety & Compliance Manager, Organically Grown Company
Logan Petrey, Grower, Grimmway Farms/Cal-Organic
Johanna Mirenda, Farm Policy Director, Organic Trade Association

Complimentary to OTA members

Not-yet member registration: $149

REGISTER

Retail Intel: Best Labeling Practices for Organic Non-Food Products

Presented August 29, 2019

Shoppers trust retailers to offer high quality products with strong organic integrity. Labeling requirements are very different when it comes to non-food organic products such as fiber, personal care and household cleaners. Don’t get lost in the gray area! Gwendolyn Wyard and Angela Jagiello helped break down the labeling landscape and help you to know what to look for to assure you are providing a full complement of trusted of organic products throughout your shop.

Presenters:
Gwendolyn Wyard, Vice President of Regulatory & Technical Affairs, Organic Trade Association
Angela Jagiello, Director of Education and Insights, Organic Trade Association

Complimentary to OTA members

Not-yet member registrations: $149

REGISTER

NOSB Wrap-Up

Presented November 13, 2019

If you weren't in the room for the National Organic Standard Board (NOSB) Fall meeting in Pittsburgh, PA, in October, but you would like to learn more about what happened, this webinar is for you. We'll spend time talking about the critical outcomes from the produce, poultry, dairy, non-food, seed, and processing/handling sectors. During the Fall meeting, NOSB voted on 7 proposals related to these sectors, considered 3 discussion documents, and discussed over 50 sunset materials.

Presenters:
Johanna Mirenda, Farm Policy Director, Organic Trade Association
Kyla Smith, Interim Co-Executive Director, Pennsylvania Certified Organic (PCO)

Organic Fraud Prevention Solutions

Presented April 11, 2019 & September 19, 2019

Following an extensive pilot project to detect and prevent fraud in the global organic supply chain, Organic Trade Association launched a comprehensive program and toolkit for the organic community. Attendees learned about the best practices in fraud prevention to keep your supply chain strong from seed to shelf. Learn more about the program. Click below to register to view this recording.

Presenters:
Gwendolyn Wyard, Vice President, Regulatory and Technical Affairs, Organic Trade Association
Dr. John Spink, Director and Associate Professor of the Food Fraud Initiative at Michigan State University.

Complimentary to OTA members on demand

Not-yet member registrations on demand: $149

REGISTER

Legislative Watch: A Recap of 2019 Achievements, and a Look Ahead to 2020

Presented on December 12, 2019

It was a busy year for organic in Washington. It was a busy year for organic in Washington. Our Director of Legislative Affairs and Coalitions, Megan DeBates, was joined by Britt Lundgren of Stonyfield Farm and Aaron Schier of National Farmers Union, where they discussed important legislative advancements for organic over the last year, provide Farm Bill implementation updates, and explore other hot button issues important to the world of agriculture policy including climate change, international trade, and agriculture labor reform. Click below to register to view this recording.

Presenters:
Megan DeBates, Director of Legislative Affairs and Coalitions, Organic Trade Association
Britt Lundgren, Director of Organic and Sustainable Agriculture, Stonyfield Farm, Inc.
Aaron Shier, Government Relations Representative, National Farmers Union

Complimentary to OTA members on demand

Not-yet member registrations on demand: $149

REGISTER

New Rules: Requirements for Use of Organic Flavors

Presented on January 29, 2020

New requirements for use of organic flavors in certified organic processed foods became effective on December 27, 2019. In this session, attendees will get a first look at new industry guidance from Organic Trade Association. Learn how the regulatory change came about, how commercially availability is defined, and gain an understanding of the process and documentation necessary to comply with the new requirements.

Presenters:
Gwendolyn Wyard, Vice President, Regulatory and Technical Affairs, Organic Trade Association
Kim Dietz, Business Development DIrector, Organics, Extracts, and Sustainability, Firmenich, Inc.
Alexis Randolph, Senior Technical Manager, Quality Assurance International (QAI)
Jeff Rakity, Senior VP Organic Sales, Brookside Flavors

Complimentary to OTA members on demand

Not-yet member registrations on demand: $149

REGISTER

The Organic Center Presents

Organic's Impact on Human Health

Presented March 20, 2019

The more we learn about the adverse effects of toxic and persistent agricultural inputs on eaters, farmworkers and their families, the clearer the connection becomes between organic food and agriculture and lower cancer risks. Dr. Jessica Shade, The Organic Center's Director of Science Programs, will discuss several groundbreaking studies with their respected authors.

Presenters:
Jessica Shade, PhD, Director of Science Programs, The Organic Center
Asa Bradman, PhD, Associate Director of Exposure Assessment, University of California - Berkeley
Kendra Klein, PhD, Senior Staff Scientist, Friends of the Earth

Available on demand to all

REGISTER

Citrus Greening Disease - the Quest for an Organic Management Solution

Presented May 9, 2019

Citrus Greening is a devastating disease affecting citrus around the world – though Florida citrus has been particularly hard hit. Infected trees are unable to extract the nutrients they need from soil, resulting in severely compromised yields and fruit that is unsuitable for sale. Until now, most of the protocols used to fight the spread of the disease have not been compliant with organic regulations. The Organic Center has collaborated with University of Florida researchers to publish a study that outlines a rigorous, multi-faceted approach to protecting citrus trees in organic systems. The paper is based on a review of existing literature, previously unpublished research and grower observations. Our panel of experts will discuss the effect Citrus Greening Disease has had on the Florida citrus industry (especially in organic), and will give a high-level overview of the paper’s findings.

Presenters:
Amber Sciligo, PhD, Science Program Manager, The Organic Center
Ellen Cochrane, PhD, University of Florida

Available on demand to all

REGISTER

The Benefits of Organic Dairy

Presented July 17, 2019

Learn about a new study published in Public Health Nutrition, by Emory University, in collaboration with The Organic Center, which shows that choosing organic is an easy way to avoid pesticide, antibiotic, and synthetic growth hormone residues in milk. Researchers tested conventional and organic milk from store shelves across 9 regions of the U.S. and found that a majority of conventional milk samples tested positive for residues of antibiotics and currently used controversial pesticides, while organic milk tested clean.

Presenter:
Jessica Shade, PhD, Director of Science Programs, The Organic Center

Available on demand to all

REGISTER

The Biodiversity Calculator - A Simple Tool for Tracking & Managing Biodiversity for NOP Compliance

Presented September 25, 2019

Biodiversity is critical for healthy, functioning organic farms, and is central to the NOP Guidance on Natural Resources and Biodiversity Conservation. However, the burden of designing and implementing biodiversity plans still falls on the farmer. This workshop will highlight a new, farmer-friendly tool that can aid farmers in technical decisions to increase on-farm biodiversity and comply with the new guidance.

Presenters:
Jessica Shade, PhD., Director of Science Programs, The Organic Center
John Quinn, PhD., Associate Professor of Biology, Furman University

Available on demand for all

REGISTER

International Affairs Series

Best Practices in Social Marketing

Presented July 24, 2019

Social marketing strategy is an important part of any company's overall marketing mix. Organic Trade Association and Edelman have new findings to share about the best ways to design and implement meaningful social media campaigns for organic products. We'll also spend some time discussing the intricacies of designing social media campaigns for international audiences. You won't want to miss a moment of this helpful presentation.

Presenters:
Alexis Carey, International Trade Manager, Organic Trade Association
Kelly Taveras, Digital Specialist, Organic Trade Association
Matt Streit, Senior Vice President, Edelman

If you're a member of the Organic Trade Association and interested in view the slides from any of our completed webinars, please email Libby Mucciarone. If you are not a member, please email Danielle Cote for more information about membership.