The funded projects will support the development and expansion of new and existing organic markets to increase the consumption of domestic organic agricultural products.
USDA said the recipients will be spearheading "unprecedented efforts to expand and open new revenue streams for the nation’s organic industry, building more value-added agricultural opportunities for farmers across rural America."
The Organic Trade Association (OTA) is urging Congress to oppose an amendmentto the House Agriculture Appropriations bill that "would effectively block the USDA from adopting regulations that update key organic animal welfare provisions."
Organic Transition Initiative (OTI) is the largest single investment in organic agriculture ever made by the USDA, and OTA and Rodale Institute will play key roles.
