MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
March 5-9, 2019
Anaheim Convention Center
Anaheim CA
The Organic Center’s 16th Annual Benefit Dinner - March 6, 2019!
Join us for the The Organic Center's 16th Annual Benefit Dinner, the biggest all-organic networking dinner at Natural Products Expo West.
Expect a thought-provoking program featuring keynote speaker Shannon Allen. Shannon, wife of 2x NBA champion Ray Allen, is the creator and owner of the thriving all-organic fast-food restaurant chain grown™.
Enjoy a delicious custom organic menu created by Chef Megan Mitchell featuring products supplied by our sponsors. Megan is a seasoned chef and internet personality who's worked with the Food Network, the Cooking Channel, and Tastemade.
You are guaranteed to connect with colleagues and organic industry leaders at this high level event. You'll learn about The Center's important work to facilitate research and communicate credible, evidence-based science on the environmental and health benefits of organic food and farming.
Our generous event sponsors have provided some amazing gifts that will be given to a few lucky attendees! How does an organic cotton mattress, a year's supply of organic dairy products, or a free registration to the Confluences Summit on climate change sound? What about an organic spice collection, or organic cotton accessory bags? Your ticket purchase enters you to win, and each $25 donation you make to The Organic Center increases your chance to receive one of these gifts.
Reserve your seat today, or reserve a VIP table and bring your friends and colleagues along with you! Sponsoring this event is also a great way to showcase your brand while supporting The Organic Center. Either way, we hope to see you there!
Foreign Buyers’ Mission Meetings
Organic PAC After-Party
You are a trade show ROCK STAR. So party like one – at Organic PAC's after-party! The Organic Trade Association's Political Action Committee will host an evening reception directly following the Grand Plaza Concert, with MORE live music and delicious food and beverages. If you’d like to learn more about Organic PAC and how you can get involved fill out your prior approval form today!
For more information contact Megan DeBates.
Organic Stakeholder Meetings
Organic Trade Association will host the following organic stakeholder meetings during Expo West.
Retail Sector Council Meeting | March 7 | 9:45am - 10:45am | Anaheim Hilton, San Simeon Room B, Level 4 | Open to the public.
If you are not a Retail Sector Council member but would like to attend, RSVP to Libby Mucciarone.
Sugar Task Force Meeting | March 7 | 11:00am - 12:00pm | Anaheim Hilton, San Simeon Room B, Level 4 | Task Force Members Only
OTA Government Affairs Member Strategy Session | March 7 | 1:00pm - 2:00pm | Anaheim Hilton, San Simeon Room B, Level 4 | OTA Members Only
The start of 2019 has brought changes that will impact the organic industry, with an historic passage of the Farm Bill and a newly-divided Congress. The Organic Trade Association invites its members to join us on Thursday, March 7th in the Anaheim Hilton’s San Simeon Room B, Level 4 for a high-level strategy session on how to approach federal policy for organic priorities over the next two years leading up to the 2020 elections. The meeting will be run by our Director of Legislative Affairs and Coalitions, Megan DeBates and our CEO Laura Batcha. To sign up for this meeting, RSVP to Megan DeBates.
Fiber Council Meeting | March 7 | 1:00pm - 4:00pm | Offsite location, Council members only
Is your company involved in organic fiber and textiles, but you aren’t a member of the Fiber Council? Come learn about the Council, its five-year goals, and how you can be involved at its annual in-person meeting during Expo West. If you are not a Fiber Council member but would like to attend, RSVP to Libby Mucciarone.
Mexico Task Force / E.U. Task Force / International Trade Forum Meeting | March 7 | 2:00pm - 3:30pm | Anaheim Hilton, San Simeon Room B, Level 4 | Task Force & Forum members only
Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices Lawsuit Briefing | March 7 | 4:30pm - 5:30pm | Anaheim Hilton, San Simeon Room B, Level 4 | OTA Members Only
Organic Fraud Prevention Solutions Meeting | March 8 | 10:00am - 11:00am | Anaheim Hilton, San Simeon Room B, Level 4 | Open to the public
The Organic Trade Association has developed a new program, Organic Fraud Prevention Solutions, in which organic businesses may voluntarily enroll. The mission of the program is to minimize or eliminate organic fraud through industry adoption of best organic fraud prevention practices. The goal is to assure authenticity of organic products and maintain and grow consumer confidence in the organic seal. Please join us to learn more about this opportunity, and how your company can pre-enroll in the program. For more information, contact Gwendolyn Wyard.
For more information on these meetings contact Libby Mucciarone.
GRO Organic at Natural Products Expo West
The Organic Trade Association is moving forward with developing an innovative voluntary checkoff-like program for coordinated organic research, promotion, and education. Organic leaders across the industry are uniting to advance organic food and farming through GRO Organic prototype programming. Join us at Expo West to learn more about this industry-invested work and how you can get involved.
Tuesday, March 5 | 12:00pm-5:00pm | Anaheim Hilton, San Simeon Room B, Level 4
GRO Core Committee Messaging Workshop: During this interactive workshop, the Core Committee will review and distill information gleaned from consumer and professional interviews, and make strategic decisions with respect to messaging. This is a key opportunity for the Core Committee to begin to build and shape the resulting messaging toolkit, based on findings from the research. *Invitation only
Wednesday, March 6 | 9:00am-10:30am | Anaheim Hilton, San Simeon Room B, Level 4
GRO Organic Steering Committee Meeting: Governance and Immediate Programming Subcommittees. *Invitation only
Thursday, March 7 | 8:00am-9:00am | 201A Convention Center
Organic Voices 2019 Campaign Briefing, in partnership with GRO Organic: Attendees at Natural Products Expo West are invited to a breakfast briefing to hear from Gary Hirshberg (Organic Voices) and Laura Batcha (Organic Trade Association) on Organic Voices’ new consumer messaging campaign direction and GRO Organic’s research and education programming. Organic Voices funders will walk away with fun resources to use at the show and potential funders will have a chance to get involved before the campaign really gets underway. RSVP to Katrina Staves.
Friday, March 8 |11:00am – 12:00pm | Marriott, Grand Ballroom G
GRO Organic Fishbowl Discussion, presented by the Organic Trade Association: Join us for a dynamic and engaging fishbowl-format discussion about the voluntary GRO Organic research, promotion, and education program. The goal of this session is to bring together various perspectives to inform BIG ideas. Hear from stakeholders spanning the entire organic supply chain about the latest consumer insights, messaging plans and ideas, potential Governance structures and so much more. Take a deep dive into program specifics with GRO Organic Core Committee members by jumping into the fishbowl with your ideas and questions. Or, "float" in the audience to listen and learn from your organic industry colleagues. Either way, we hope to see you there.
For more information on these meetings contact Tessa Young.
Speaking Engagements
Wednesday, March 6 | 2:00pm- 4:30pm | Anaheim Marriott Orange County Ballroom 1
Innovations for Good in Organic
Speakers: Laura Batcha, Organic Trade Association's CEO/Executive Director
Megan DeBates, Organic Trade Association's Director of Legislative Affairs and Coalitions
Wednesday, March 6 | 3:15pm-4:15pm | Anaheim Convention Center Room 204C
Global Export Series, U.S. Organic Market Briefing
Speaker: Alexis Carey, Organic Trade Association's International Trade Manager
Friday, March 8 | 1:30pm-3:00pm | Marriott Grand Ballroom G
Organic 101
Speaker: Gwendolyn Wyard, Organic Trade Association's Vice President of Regulatory & Technical Affairs
For more information on these sessions contact Angela Jagiello.
What’s new at OTA? Visit the booth to learn more!
March 5, 2019 | Climate Day Tabletop | Anaheim Marriott, Marquis Ballroom Central
Come learn about the connection between organic and climate change! The Organic Center will be highlighting research on the benefits of organic to carbon sequestration, and showcasing the new GRO portfolio of research projects that tackle soil health and climate change from multiple angles. You can also get a preview of what’s to come for this year’s Organic Confluences Conference: you guessed it – the focus is on climate change!
March 6, 2019 | Fresh Ideas Tent | Booth F85
Stop by the Fresh Ideas Tent to learn more about the Organic Trade Association Fraud Prevention Program and how your company can pre-enroll!
March 7-9, 2019 | Anaheim Convention Center | Booth #1821
Be sure to visit our booth and member lounge at the 2019 Natural Products Expo West trade show! 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. If you're exhibiting, we'll also drop off an OTA Member sign for you to display during the show!
Contact
Tracy Campany
Events Manager
(202) 403-8632
