Small Business Access (SBA) Program

Growing organic opportunity for all.

The Organic Trade Association’s new Small Business Access (SBA) Program removes the financial and technical barriers that keep underresourced producers and brands from entering the organic marketplace.

Who Can Apply?

Annual organic sales below $100K
U.S.-based farm, processor, emerging brands
Commitment to transition to organic certification within 2 years
Willingness to join quarterly peer calls & impact surveys

What You Receive

$1,500 Certification Grant	50 % upfront, 50 % post certification
Three-Year OTA Membership	Voting rights, Small Business Council access, ROOTS regional network
Quarterly AMA Sessions	Live Q&As with finance, marketing & compliance experts
National Visibility	National Visibility

SBA builds a more resilient, equitable supply chain—one small business at a time.

How Current Members Can Help

Donate to the SBA program
Sponsor a scholarship opportunity to Organic Week
Source ingredients from SBA participants to diversify your supply chain.

Program Narrative

1. Overview

For more than 30 years, the Organic Trade Association (OTA) has worked to promote and protect organic with a unifying voice that serves members from farm to marketplace. Yet access to the organic premium remains uneven. The new Small Business Access (SBA) Program is built on our award-winning programming that has been working to address barriers to entry into the organic sector for small farms and brands. Our success has been found in pairing financial relief with community-powered technical assistance.

2. ROOTS Regional Strategy

The Program tailors outreach and peer cohorts to the realities of the Northeast, South, Midwest, and West, ensuring context-specific resources. This has proven to be an integral part of our successful strategy for growing regional organic production.