Organic Trade Association

Delivers agency guidance to remove obstacles to the growth of organic production

Contact: Barbara Haumann (bhaumann@ota.com; 802-275-3820)

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 14, 2013)— Speaking today to member-attendees of the Organic Trade Association’s (OTA’s) Policy Conference, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack officially recognized the unique production system covering U.S. organic agriculture, and announced guidance to remove agency obstacles to its continued growth.

Formalizes new Farmers Advisory Council to engage farmers across America

Contact: Barbara Haumann (bhaumann@ota.com; 802-275-3820)

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 10, 2013)—The Organic Trade Association (OTA) has formally established a Farmers Advisory Council to provide input from small- to medium-sized organic farmers, ranchers and growers to the trade association on matters geared to advancing organic agriculture.

Deadline for submissions is May 31

Contact: Barbara Haumann (bhaumann@ota.com; 802-275-3820)

BRATTLEBORO, VT (May 1, 2013) — The Organic Trade Association (OTA) is currently seeking nominations for its prestigious Organic Leadership Awards. This is your opportunity to nominate an organic unsung hero who has made a significant difference to organic agriculture, industry and trade.

OTTAWA, April 11, 2013 /CNW/ - Canada's organic market grew to $3.7 billion in 2012, with national sales of certified organic food and non-alcoholic beverages reaching $3 billion. The value of the Canadian organic food market has tripled since 2006, far outpacing the growth rate of other agri-food sectors. A diverse consumer base is driving the sector, with 58% of all Canadians buying organic products every week.

Trust in the USDA Organic seal reaches an all-time high among organic buyers

Contact: Barbara Haumann (bhaumann@ota.com; 802-275-3820)

Washington, D.C., (April 4, 2013)— U.S. families are increasingly embracing organic products in a wide range of categories, with 81 percent now reporting they purchase organic at least sometimes. This finding is one of many contained in the Organic Trade Association’s (OTA’s) newly released 2013 U.S. Families’ Organic Attitudes and Beliefs Study, conducted Jan. 18-24, 2013.

U.S. household survey finds one-third choose organic foods to avoid GMOs

Contact: Barbara Haumann (bhaumann@ota.com; 802-275-3820)

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 19, 2013)—Results from the latest consumer survey conducted for the Organic Trade Association (OTA) reveal that as U.S. families are becoming increasingly aware of the presence of unlabeled genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in foods in the marketplace, they turn to organic as the food labeled by law to not have been made with genetically engineered ingredients.

Contact: Barbara Haumann (bhaumann@ota.com; 802-275-3820)

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 15, 2013)—The Organic Center has named 15 persons to its new Board of Trustees, and formally introduced them at its sold-out fundraiser dinner March 9 held in conjunction with Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, CA.

UNFI Foundation provides grant for arsenic and rice research

Contact: Barbara Haumann (bhaumann@ota.com; 802-275-3820)

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 5, 2013)—The Organic Center has signed an agreement with U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) for ARS scientists to conduct targeted research on the factors affecting the presence of arsenic in organically grown rice. Making this research possible is a $50,000 grant to The Organic Center from the newly formed UNFI Foundation.

(OTTAWA)—Organizers of Canada’s annual Organic Week are pleased to announce a new partner organization has joined with them to expand Canada’s largest celebration of organic farming and products.

Newly created position will provide scientific leadership to advance organic food and farming

Contact: Barbara Haumann (bhaumann@ota.com; 802-275-3820)

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Feb. 19, 2013)—The Organic Center today named Jessica Shade, Ph.D., to serve in its newly created position of Director of Science Programs. She begins working for The Organic Center today.

Changes to federal crop insurance program arrive just in time for beleaguered Southern Plains farmers

Contact: Angela Jagiello (802-275-3831)

BRATTLEBORO, Vt. (Jan. 31, 2013) — U.S. organic cotton production contracted in 2011, due in large part to the sweeping drought in the Southern Plains, according to the 2011 and Preliminary 2012 U.S. Organic Cotton Production & Marketing Trends report conducted by the Organic Trade Association.

OTTAWA: January 29, 2013 — Two of Canada’s longest-running organic organizations today announced that they are streamlining and centralizing their efforts to better represent Canada’s organic sector in Ottawa. The Canadian Organic Growers (COG) and Canada Organic Trade Association (COTA) will build upon their history of collaboration while also sharing office space and resources in the nation’s capital.