The Georgia Organics Annual Conference is taking place February 7-8, 2020 in Athens, GA. The annual Georgia Organics Conference & Expo is about fostering community – a community of farmers on the path toward prosperity, and a community of Georgians interested in supporting healthier foods, farms, and families. As we move our conference around the state, we help grow a united good food movement. We learn and share challenges and solutions, and we showcase and celebrate the transformational work of the people in our movement.

Organic Trade Association's Farm Policy Director, Johanna Mirenda, will be speaking on the following panel at the Conference. For more information, contact Johanna Mirenda. 

Really Really Organic: the Next Generation of Labels | Friday, February 7, 2020 | 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Dr. Andrew Smith, Rodale Institute; Johanna Mirenda, Organic Trade Association; Linley Dixon, Real Organic Project

Sustainably minded growers can now choose between several labels meant to convey how green the farm is, including Real Organic Project certification, USDA Organic Certification, and Regenerative Organic Certification. Hear from members of the Rodale Institue, Organic Trade Association, and Real Organic Project on how and why these labels serve the eco-conscious grower, and consumer demand. This session is best for farmers, educators, good food advocates, and community organizers. Target Audience: Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced Farmers.

Conference Information:

February 7-8, 2020

The Classics Center

Athens, GA

The Global Organic Textile Standard [GOTS] Annual Meeting is taking place February 15-19, 2020 in Frankfurt, Germany. 

Organic Trade Association's VP of Regulatory & Technical Affairs, Gwenodlyn Wyard, is a member of the GOTS Standards Committee and will be attending the Committee meeting on Monday, February 17. Organic Trade Association's Farm Policy Director, Johanna Mirenda, is a member of the GOTS Advisory Council and will be attending the Council meeting on Wednesday, February 18. 

The GOTS Annual Meeting is invite only and not open to the public. Contact Gwendolyn Wyard for additional information. 

The MOSES Organic Farming Conference will be taking place February 27-29, 2020 in La Crosse, WI. 

The MOSES Conference is the place where people who have a passion for good food and good-for-the-Earth farming have gathered here to share ideas, discover new resources, and feel supported in their work. However you fit into the organic, sustainable, regenerative movement, you are welcome at MOSES—this event is common ground.

Organic Trade Association staff will be attending the Conference and participating in the following workshop:

Federal & State Support for Organic Dairy | Saturday, February 29 | Workshop Session III | 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Speakers: Megan DeBates, Organic Trade Association; Meg Plucinski, D & M Family Farm; Adam Warthesen, Organic Valley; Perry Clutts, Dairy Farmer
Organic dairy, along with the broader dairy economy, has faced financial strain in recent years. We’ll explore programs offered at the federal and state levels for organic dairy and encourage producers to share suggestions to make federal and state program offerings more useful for them. Our conversation will focus primarily on commodity, risk management, data collection, and cropping safeguards that organic dairy farmers might use.

Contact Organic Trade Association's Director of Legistlative Affairs and Coalitions, Megan DeBates, for more information or to connect at the Conference. 

Conference Information:

February 27-29, 2020

La Crosse, WI

FoodEx Japan is taking place March 10-13, 2020 in Toyko, Japan. 

FOODEX JAPAN is the Asia's largest exhibition dedicated on food and drink across Japan and the whole world. Over the 4 days of the exhibition, about 85,000 buyers from food service, distribution, and trading companies are expected to attend.Attention will be given to the expansion of business opportunities domestically and internationally upon the activation of the TPP. Numerous buyers will also be attending from abroad, and business talks will be held with domestic and international manufacturers.

Organic Trade Association will be hosting a pavilion of 8 U.S. organic companies at the show. The registration fee for new exhibitors is $600 and for $1,000 for returning exhibitors. Because we have limited space at this event, each application is subject to approval. Participation is based on a first-come, first-served basis. Register here! Contact Organic Trade Association's International Trade Manager, Alexis Carey, for additional information. 

Participation includes: 

(1) round trip economy flight to Tokyo (booked through an Organic Trade Association travel agent),
(1) single hotel room for the duration of the activity,
(1) 1m table top counter display within the Organic Trade Association booth in the USA pavilion,
Logo screening and other marketing materials,
An interpreter shared among exhibitors,
and (1) group dinner and buyer dinner support.
Please note that all other expenses, such as meals, samples, shipping costs, and the cost to and from the airport, are at your own cost.

Organic Trade Association Pavilion Information:

FoodEx Japan
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Show Dates:  March 10th - March 13th
Arrive in Tokyo: March 8th
Depart Tokyo: March 14th

SIAL Canada is taking place April 15-17, 2020 in Toronto, Canada. SIAL Canada is now the only event of its scale in Canada, with more than 1,000 national and international exhibitors from 50 countries hosting over 18,500 buyers from Canada, the U.S., and 60 other countries. SIAL Canada is the only national trade show that offers a complete range of food products under one roof to meet your customers’ expectations. Whether you work in the retail, catering or food processing industry, or you’re simply looking for new and innovative products or regional specialties from around the world, you’ll find exactly what you need right here.

Organic Trade Association will be hosting a pavilion of U.S. organic companies at the show in 2020! The registration fee for new exhibitors is $600, and $800 for return participants. Because we have limited space at this event, each application is subject to approval. Participation is based on a first-come, first-serve basis. Please note only processed product / ingredient suppliers will be accepted for this show. Register here! Contact Organic Trade Association's International Trade Manager, Alexis Carey, for additional information. 

Your registration fee includes:

(1) round trip economy flight to Montreal (booked through an Organic Trade Association travel agent),
(1) single hotel room for the duration of the activity,
(1) 1m table top counter display within the Organic Trade Association booth in the USA pavilion,
Logo screening and other marketing materials,
and (1) group dinner and buyer dinner support.
Please note that all other expenses, such as meals, samples, shipping costs, and the cost to and from the airport, are at the participants' own expense.

Organic Trade Association Pavilion Exhibit Information: 

SIAL Canada
Location: Montreal, Canada
Show site: Palais des congres de Montreal
Show Dates:  April 15th - April 17th
Arrive in Montreal: April 13th
Departure: April 17th or 18th

The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) Spring Meeting will be taking place April 29 - May 1, 2020 in Crystal City, VA. 

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 2022, and recommendations on organic policies.

The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) typically meets twice per year in various locations around the United States. During meetings, the NOSB listens to public comments, discusses agenda items, and then votes on recommendations to the Secretary in a public forum. Detailed meeting information, including agendas, locations, proposals, and public comments, will be posted below as it becomes available. For information on previous meetings, visit the NOSB meetings page.

Organic Trade Association's VP of Regulatory and Technical Affairs, Gwendolyn Wyard, will be attending the meeting and submitting written and oral recommendations to the NOSB on behalf of Organic Trade Assocation Members. For more information or to connect at the meeting, contact Gwendolyn Wyard.

Meeting Information:

Westin Crystal City
1800 Richmond Highway
Arlington, Virginia 22202 United States

The Organic Produce Summit is taking place July 8-9, 2020 in Monterey, CA. This is the only event dedicated exclusively to bringing together producers and buyers of the organic fresh produce industry.

Organic Trade Association will host a Buyers Mission at the Organic Produce Summit. Buyers in attendance will be major retailers and importers invited from Mexico and the Pacific Rim. Buyer Profiles will be available in spring 2020. Supplier registration is limited and interested companies are enouraged to sign up as soon as possible to guarantee a spot! Register here! 

Registration is $150 and includes customized pre-arranged meetings with each buyer. Participants are responsible for their own badge to the Organic Produce Summit if they are not exhibitors. 

For all USDA MAP programs, all of the products you promote must be USDA certified organic, produced in the USA, and made of 51% or more of U.S. based ingredients either by value (cost of the ingredients) or volume (against overall weight of the product).  This is the federal USDA regulation for participation and part of declaration you agree to when signing up for Organic Trade Association activities.  All supplier participants must complete Organic Trade Association’s onsite evaluation and a 6 month follow-up evaluation.

For more information contact Alexis Carey, Organic Trade Association's International Trade Manager. 

Fine Foods Australia is taking place September 7-10, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. 

This show will host over 1,000 exhibitors and thousands more brands - general & specialty food, catering equipment, front of house, bakery, drinks, coffee, tea, dairy, meat & seafood, retail & technology, fit-out & design, packaging, natural, organic & free-from. 23,000+ visitors attend Fine Food Australia each year. Sharing experiences with chefs, restaurateurs, café and bar owners, and other food operators, over four days could set you up for more success for years. Meeting face-to-face with leading industry suppliers is also a proven way to seal a sweeter supply or distribution deal.

Organic Trade Association will host a pavilion of 5 U.S. organic companies at Fine Foods Australia for the first time in 2020! Contact Alexis Carey, Organic Trade Association's International Trade Manager, if you are interested in participating! 

Tradeshow Information:

September 7-10, 2020

Melbourne, Australia.

Natural Products Expo East is taking place September 23-26, 2020 in Philadelphia, PA. 

Organic Trade Association will be exhibiting at Expo East 2020! Members can stop by our lounge anytime during show floor hours to grab a cup of organic coffee, check email, and chat with staff. Whether you are interested in discussing critical issues facing your organic business, checking out OTA’s global trade resources to help you expand your business overseas, or understanding what OTA is doing to elevate the footprint of organic on Capitol Hill, our knowledgeable staff is eager to connect with you. Meeting space is always available on a first come first served basis.

In addition to exhibiting at the show, Organic Trade Association will also host a Buyers Mission and organize the All Things Organic education sessions on coordination with Expo East. Check out our Organic at Expo East page for more details on 2020 programming!

Trade Show Information:

September 23-26, 2020

Philadelphia Convention Center

Philadelphia, PA