OTA | WholeFoods Magazine

Organic Sales Surpass $60 Billion

Data from the Organic Trade Association shows growth pace doubled from the previous year.

May 17, 2023

WholeFoods Magazine Staff

Organic Trade Association survey shows growth pace of organic doubled from previous year.

OTA Receives $1M+ to Promote U.S. Organic Products Nationally

December 9, 2022

Rebecca Viscomi

The Organic Trade Association (OTA) has announced it is the recipient of over $1 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Market Access Program (MAP). The monetary award will be put towards promoting U.S. organic products around the world in 2023.

Organic Groups Welcome USDA's Organic Transition Initiative

September 16, 2022

Maggie Jaqua

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...

Organic Industry Survey Shows Steady Growth

June 3, 2022

Maggie Jaqua

Washington, D.C.—Pantry loading and supply shortages were a major issue during the pandemic, but the Organic Trade Association (OTA) reports that its latest Organic Industry Survey shows consumers returned to more stable, buy-as-you-need shopping patterns in 2021. Among the findings shared by OTA in a press release: Between 2020 and...

OTA Testifies Before the House Ag Committee, Looking Forward to 2023 Farm Bill

March 30, 2022

Julia Peterman

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,...

USDA Publishes Origin of Livestock Final Rule

March 30, 2022

Julia Peterman

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...

USDA To Hold Public Listening Session Regarding Upcoming Standards Activities

February 8, 2022

Julia Peterman

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...

OTA Asks Court to Reinstate Animal Welfare Standards

June 21, 2021

WholeFoods Magazine Staff

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...

COVID-19 Drove Organic Sales in 2020, According to 2020 OTA Industry Survey

May 25, 2021

WholeFoods Magazine Staff

Washington, D.C.—U.S. organic sales jumped a record 12.4% in 2020, hitting $61.9 billion, according to the 2021 Organic Industry Survey released by the Organic Trade Association (OTA). For comparison, the 2019 growth rate was 5%. A press release from OTA credits the growth to the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused consumer...

OTA Issues Statement on Biden's USDA Pick; Releases Memo to Biden-Harris Transition Team

December 14, 2020

WholeFoods Magazine Staff

Washington, D.C.—The Organic Trade Association (OTA) issued a statement regarding the reported choice Tom Vilsack as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture under President-elect Joe Biden. OTA said it looks forward to working again with Vilsack, adding that he "understands the importance and great potential of the American organic sector." Pointing to...