Thought-provoking session will look at new research, trends and challenges
At nearly 14 percent of the total market for U.S. organic products, dairy is a major driver of dollar and volume sales in organic, with a $6.5 billion market in 2018. But for a second year running, the category has struggled to maintain positive growth. The Organic Trade Association will explore the challenges and opportunities for the important organic dairy sector at its All Things Organic Conference at Natural Products Expo East in Baltimore.
The panel session, to be held on Thursday, Sept. 12, from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. Eastern, will highlight new groundbreaking research, consumer trends and market factors affecting organic dairy. It will provide an update of product innovations, and regulatory developments in this key organic category.
Dr. Jessica Shade, Director of Science Programs for The Organic Center, will begin the panel session with a look at the results from a new study conducted by researchers at Emory University, in collaboration with The Organic Center. The study found that a majority of samples of conventional retail milk tested positive for residues of antibiotics – two of which are banned from dairy production — and controversial pesticides. Organic milk showed no such contaminants.
The panel discussion will be led by Melissa Hughes, Chief Mission Officer & General Counsel, Organic Valley. Also on the panel are Tim Joseph, Founding Farmer of Maple Hill Creamery, who will discuss brand differentiation and supply challenges, and Christopher Malnar, Vice President of Marketing, Stonyfield, who will talk about innovation in the dairy sector.
Held in conjunction with Expo East, the All Things Organic Conference delivers an informative and comprehensive program with critical information on the issues that impact organic businesses. Speakers address a range of topics with the latest data and insights about the industry and much more. For more information on all the All Things Organic sessions to be offered this year, visit OTA.com.
The “Digging into Organic Dairy” session will be held in the Baltimore Convention Center, Hilton Key Ballroom 6.
The Organic Trade Association (OTA) is the membership-based business association for organic agriculture and products in North America. OTA is the leading voice for the organic trade in the United States, representing over 9,500 organic businesses across 50 states. Its members include growers, shippers, processors, certifiers, farmers' associations, distributors, importers, exporters, consultants, retailers and others. OTA’s Board of Directors is democratically elected by its members. OTA's mission is to promote and protect ORGANIC with a unifying voice that serves and engages its diverse members from farm to marketplace.
