The recent federal court ruling on the legality of the 2018 GMO labeling laws confirmed the obvious: a checkerboard square that shoppers can’t read is not an adequate GMO disclosure. That was the small but significant win for Natural Grocers and other plaintiffs resulting from the lawsuit filed by the...
Washington, D.C.—The launch of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) $300 million Organic Transition Initiative takes real steps to build the next generation of organic producers and strengthen organic supply chains, according to the Organic Trade Association (OTA). Tom Chapman, CEO and Executive Director of OTA, said this is the largest single investment in...
Washington, D.C.—The Organic Trade Association (OTA)’s Laura Batcha presented testimony before the House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research, during a hearing titled “A 2022 Review of the Farm Bill: Horticulture and Urban Agriculture.” Batcha—OTA’s Executive Director and CEO—outlined key organic industry priorities for the next farm bill,...
Washington, D.C.—The U.S. Department of Agriculture has published the Origin of Livestock final rule for organic dairy, according to a USDA press release. The changes are intended to promote a fairer and more competitive market for organic dairy producers, by making sure that certified USDA organic dairy products are produced...
Washington, D.C.—USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) has released the results of the 2021 Hemp Acreage and Production Survey in its National Hemp Report, according to a USDA press release. Hemp grown in the open totaled 54,152 acres. Area harvested totaled 33,480 acres. The value of that hemp production was...
Washington, D.C.—The USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has announced a “public listening session, with request for comment, regarding upcoming standards development activities, including feedback about specific recommendations received from the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB).” The Organic Trade Association (OTA) stated in a press release that this session is the...
Washington, D.C.—USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack kicked off the Annual Membership Meeting of the Organic Trade Association (OTA), according to a press release, laying out his agenda for the organic sector. Vilsack spoke live to over 250 members of the organization, and stated that he appreciates the importance of the organic...
Washington, D.C.—The Organic Trade Association (OTA) announced that it has asked the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to immediately vacate the Department of Agriculture’s 2018 withdrawal of the Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices (OLPP) final rule. OTA also requested that USDA be ordered to reinstate the organic...
Washington, D.C.—The U.S. Senate has passed a bill containing language regarding country-of-origin labeling that FMI is calling “unworkable” for agricultural producers, food manufacturers, and grocery retailers. FMI is now advocating to prevent the language from passing in the U.S. House of Representatives. FMI and 14 other food industry associations wrote...
Washington, D.C.—With a growing hunger crisis in the U.S., the Biden Administration announced an executive order aimed at providing relief for American families and businesses struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic. Noting that 29 million Americans— and as many as 12 million children—are now impacted by the hunger crisis, the all-of-government...
