The 66th North American Agricultural Journalists [NAAJ] Annual Meeting will be April 7-9, 2019 in Washington, D.C.

During this meeting, sessions generally include a business meeting Sunday afternoon following by a pay-your-own group dinner, a variety of newsmakers followed by the banquet and writing awards celebration at the National Press Club on Monday, and visits with elected officials on Tuesday. Find full meeting agenda here.

On Monday, April 8th, Organic Trade Association's CEO/Executive Director, Laura Batcha, will be speaking on a panel on the Future of USDA Certified Organic. For more information, contact Maggie McNeil. 

Meeting Information:

April 7-9, 2019 

The Cosmos Club

Washington, D.C. 

The Spring 2019 National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) Meeting will be April 24-26 at the Renaissance Seattle Hotel in Seattle, WA. During meeting, NOSB listens to public comments, discusses agenda items, and then votes in a public forum. Detailed meeting information, including agendas, locations, proposals, and public comments will be posted below as it becomes available. All meetings are free and open to the public. For information on previous meetings, visit the NOSB meetings page.

From Wednesday, April 16 to Friday, April 26, the NOSB will meet to discuss: substances petitioned for addition to or deletion from the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (National List), substances due to sunset from the National List in 2021, and guidance on the organic regulations. The Organic Trade Association’s Regulatory and Legislative staff (Gwendolyn Wyard, Megan DeBates and Johanna Mirenda) will be in attendance and providing oral comments. For more information, contact Johanna Mirenda.

Meeting information:

April 24 - 26
Renaissance Seattle Hotel
Seattle, WA

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. Learn more our Webinar series.

Seoul Food & Hotel 2019 will return to Kintex, Seoul and already looks set to expand on its record breaking year in 2018. Seoul Food & Hotel, taking place May 21-24, provides participating companies with an opportunity to meet with key importers, distributors and industry buyers from retail, catering and hospitality trade across the of Korea. As a nation of ever-evolving tastes and with a variety of developing food trends, Korea is one of Asia's most important nations for launching new and innovative products.

Organic Trade Association will host a pavilion of 8 US organic companies at the trade show. The cost is $600 for new exhibitors to SFH, and $1,000 for return participants. Sign-ups will be taken on a first come, first serve basis with priority given to new exhibitors. Organic Trade Association shared booth space is already at full capacity for this year, but contact Alexis Carey for more information on how to get involved! 

Registration includes: Tabletop in OTA booth, 1 round trip economy transportation to and from Seoul, booked through OTA’s travel agent (excluding airport transfers), Hotel stay for 1 for the duration of the activity, Fascia and counter graphics, 1 Group dinner, and buyer dinner support.

Tradeshow Information: 

Seoul Food & Hotel 2019

May 21-24, 2019

Seoul, Korea

New to the organic industry? Join a panel of industry experts as they explore 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. Learn more about our Webinar series.

The 2018 Farm Bill allowed hemp to be regulated by the USDA, including the labeling of American-grown hemp as certified organic. From food to fiber to innovative building material, the potential market opportunity for this new commodity crop is huge. Join OTA's regulatory expert, Gwendolyn Wyard, for a regulatory and market briefing on hemp. Learn more about our Webinar series.

The Organic Trade Association Summer Board Meeting Phone Conference will be taking place on Wednesday, August 21, 2019 from 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. EST.

The OTA Board of Directors typically meets as a full Board at least four times a year, two or three in-person meetings and one or two via teleconference. Each Board member serves on one of the three committees: Executive, Community Relations, or Governance.  Each committee typically meets once per month.

For more information, contact Stephanie Jerger. 

Meeting Information:

Wednesday, August 21, 2019 | 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. EST.

Phone Conference 

The Organic Trade Association Fall Board Meeting will be taking place on September 11, 2019 from 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. EST. The meeting will be held in conjunction with Natural Products Expo East in Baltimore, MD.

The OTA Board of Directors typically meets as a full Board at least four times a year, two or three in-person meetings and one or two via teleconference. Each Board member serves on one of the three committees: Executive, Community Relations, or Governance.  Each committee typically meets once per month.

For more information, contact Stephanie Jerger. 

Meeting Information:

September 11, 2019 | 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. EST

Baltimore, MD