National Organic Standards Board

Bipartisan bill introduced to ensure continued advancement of organic

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, October 18, 2023
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Washington, D.C., Oct. 18, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Organic Trade Association applauds the introduction of critical bipartisan legislation in Congres to ensure organic standards continuously evolve and improve, and to hold the federal government accountable for keeping up with the needs and expectations of the dynamic organic marketplace.

Key Points: 
  • Washington, D.C., Oct. 18, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Organic Trade Association applauds the introduction of critical bipartisan legislation in Congres to ensure organic standards continuously evolve and improve, and to hold the federal government accountable for keeping up with the needs and expectations of the dynamic organic marketplace.
  • The legislation would amend the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 to provide a streamlined and predictable process to review and revise organic standards implemented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
  • It would enable the improvement and advancement of organic to forge ahead into the future.
  • “Ensuring continuous improvement for organic is our highest priority in the 2023 Farm Bill, and this legislation goes far to address that objective,” said Tom Chapman, CEO and Executive Director of the Organic Trade Association.

Whole Foods Market Celebrates 20 Years as a Certified Organic Grocer

Retrieved on: 
Monday, September 18, 2023
Public Policy, Government, Agriculture, Natural Resources, Supermarket, Food, Beverage, Congressional News, Views, Retail, Whole Foods Market, National Organic Standards Board, Partnership, Senate, Organic farming, Education, Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee, Organic Trade Association, Public, Farmer, OTA, Research, Organic, Sale, Certification, Organization Science (journal), National Organic Program, Investment, USDA, Growth, Health, House, Environment, ISO 9000, Legislation, SOAR

This year marks 20 years since Whole Foods Market first attained organic retail certification.

Key Points: 
  • This year marks 20 years since Whole Foods Market first attained organic retail certification.
  • “Whole Foods Market is proud to celebrate 20 years as the only certified organic national grocer in the industry and continue our work to help grow and support the organic community,” said Jason Buechel, chief executive officer at Whole Foods Market.
  • “Our Team Members work hard to ensure the organic integrity of our products all the way from the farm to customer selection from our shelves.”
    Whole Foods Market has championed organic since before there was a National Organic Program and requires certification for organic label claims on all products it sells.
  • Whole Foods Market continues to advocate for legislation supporting the adoption of organic and other climate-smart agricultural practices, while reducing infrastructural challenges and barriers to the market.

Organic Trade Association releases 2023 Farm Bill platform

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, February 8, 2023
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Washington, D.C., Feb. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Organic Trade Association (OTA) on Wednesday called for a new Farm Bill that recognizes the integral role the $63 billion U.S. organic sector plays in today’s American agriculture.

Key Points: 
  • Washington, D.C., Feb. 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Organic Trade Association (OTA) on Wednesday called for a new Farm Bill that recognizes the integral role the $63 billion U.S. organic sector plays in today’s American agriculture.
  • The association, in announcing its platform for the 2023 Farm Bill, outlined policies to support the growth and success of organic agriculture into the next decade and beyond.
  • “Organic is one of the country’s fastest-growing food production and processing categories, but despite the organic sector’s strengths and marketplace success, the industry faces core challenges that Congress must address in the next Farm Bill,” said Tom Chapman, CEO of the trade association.
  • “The Farm Bill has a huge impact on the future of organic agriculture, and we need to capitalize on the important gains that organic achieved in the 2018 Farm Bill,” said FAC co-chair Doug Crabtree, organic farmer from Montana.

USDA Urged to Strengthen Farm Animal Welfare by Finalizing Long-Awaited Organic Standards

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, October 27, 2022
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WASHINGTON, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) and the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) led more than 15 other organizations, farmers, and companies in urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture to finalize the Organic Livestock and Poultry Standards (OLPS) rule. These landmark federal regulations would require stronger welfare standards for animals raised under the "USDA Organic" label that better align with consumer expectations. The OLPS rule would also level the playing field for organic farmers who already adhere to higher-welfare practices, such as providing chickens with meaningful access to outdoor space where they can engage in natural behaviors.

Key Points: 
  • These landmark federal regulations would require stronger welfare standards for animals raised under the "USDA Organic" label that better align with consumer expectations.
  • According to a recent national poll , the overwhelming majority (80 percent) of organic consumers say animal welfare is important to them when considering whether to purchase organic animal products, and 85 percent stated that it's important for the federal government to establish clear, uniform standards for animal welfare on organic farms.
  • "We're encouraged to see the USDA revisiting the OLPS rule to fix inconsistencies and loopholes in the National Organic Program.
  • The Animal Welfare Institute ( awionline.org ) is a nonprofit charitable organization founded in 1951 and dedicated to reducing animal suffering caused by people.

ROAR® Organic Launches Nationwide in Whole Foods Market Stores

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, June 15, 2022
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View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220615005380/en/

Key Points: 
  • View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220615005380/en/
    All four flavors of ROAR Organic's delicious hydration beverages are now available at Whole Foods Market locations nationwide.
  • With nourishing electrolytes, vitamins, and antioxidants in each sip, ROAR Organic promises organic, refreshing hydration with three grams of sugar or less and only 20 calories per bottle.
  • All ROAR Organic beverages are USDA Certified Organic, which means theyre non-GMO and made without preservatives, flavors, colors and pesticides prohibited by National Organic Standards.
  • In addition to Whole Foods Markets, ROAR Organic is available in natural and traditional grocers nationwide, including Sprouts, Wegmans, Safeway/Albertsons and more, plus online at www.roarorganic.com and on Amazon .

Organic Trade Association Names 2021 Leadership Awards Honorees

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, October 14, 2021
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Washington, D.C., Oct. 14, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, the Organic Trade Association announced the names of their 2021 Organic Leadership Award honorees: five visionaries who have advanced organic by promoting the industrys climate change mitigation practices, investing in social responsibility initiatives, leading organic transition programs, and keeping the organic community safe during COVID-19.

Key Points: 
  • Washington, D.C., Oct. 14, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, the Organic Trade Association announced the names of their 2021 Organic Leadership Award honorees: five visionaries who have advanced organic by promoting the industrys climate change mitigation practices, investing in social responsibility initiatives, leading organic transition programs, and keeping the organic community safe during COVID-19.
  • The Organic Trade Association's first Organic Leadership Award was established in 1997 and awards have been offered annually since.
  • Sponsors for Organic Week 2022 events include MOMs Organic Market, New Hope Network, Organic Valley, General Mills, Amys Kitchen, and SucroSourcing.For Organic Week sponsorship opportunities, contact the Organic Trade Association .
  • About the Organic Trade Association The Organic Trade Association (OTA) is the membership-based business association for organic agriculture and products in North America.

Grant takes on organic challenges with third-party certifications

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, October 5, 2021
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Key Points: 
  • To address these concerns, USDAs Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (OREI) has awarded a $50,000 planning grant for the University of Rhode Island in collaboration with The Organic Center and a diverse team of researchers, organizations, and farmers.
  • She is an expert in organic regulations, and was the technical director for the Organic Materials Review Institute and policy director for Pennsylvanian Certified Organic prior to her current role.
  • The Organic Center's mission is to convene credible, evidence-based science on the health and environmental impacts of organic food and farming and to communicate the findings to the public.
  • The Center is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) research and education organization operating under the administrative auspices of the Organic Trade Association.

Organic Trade Association, Arizona State University join forces on future of organic

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, September 22, 2021
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The Organic Farmers Association is co-hosting one of the workshops, which will be geared exclusively for organic farmers and farmer organizations.

Key Points: 
  • The Organic Farmers Association is co-hosting one of the workshops, which will be geared exclusively for organic farmers and farmer organizations.
  • Organic Farmers Association is excited to partner with the Organic Trade Association in co-hosting a national conversation with organic farmers on these topics, says Kate Mendenhall, Executive Director of Organic Farmers Association.
  • The Organic Farmers Association (OFA) is a membership-based agricultural association for domestic certified organic farmers and their supporters.
  • The mission of the Organic Farmers Association is to provide a strong and unified national voice for domestic certified organic producers.

Joe Johnson From Science-Proven Microbial Control Earns WELL Accredited Professional (WELL AP) Credential

Retrieved on: 
Monday, September 13, 2021
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The WELL AP Exam was launched last October and was complemented by a comprehensive educational program.

Key Points: 
  • The WELL AP Exam was launched last October and was complemented by a comprehensive educational program.
  • "We're thrilled that he's added this new credential to his already deep expertise.
  • The WELL Building Standard is the first building standard to focus exclusively on the health and wellness of the people in buildings.
  • SPMC provides MicrobX , an Antimicrobial Touchpoint Program that helps reduce infections spread from touching building surfaces.

Momentum for advancing organic standards builds in Congress

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, July 27, 2021
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“The federal regulatory apparatus has fallen behind the evolving organic sector, and has slowed innovation and improvement within the industry. This legislation corrects the course forward,” said Laura Batcha, CEO and Executive Director of the Organic Trade Association. “Our fly-in drove home to lawmakers the fact that the unique private-public partnership of organic and the federal government has made our organic system the gold standard for food and agricultural systems, and that we need to get that partnership back on track.”The CIAO bill has been endorsed by more than 55 organic farmers, businesses, consumers and environmental organizations, with a co-sponsor list that’s grown to 16 since its introduction. The National Organic Standards Board has also expressed unanimous support for the bill, saying the legislation respects the work of NOSB in clarifying and updating national organic standards. More than 50 current and former NOSB members have endorsed the bill.The legislation directly addresses the challenges of organic over the past two decades and provides a clear way to ensure the federal government keeps up with the organic market. It lays out a road forward for organic through three areas: it requires USDA to clear the backlog of stalled organic standards put forth by the industry and recommended by the National Organic Standards Board; it establishes a new framework for advancing future organic standards; and it ensures consistent application of new standards from organic certifiers.Participants in last week’s virtual fly-in came from all points of the organic supply chain and mirrored the diversity of organic--organic grain farmers and dairy and poultry producers, organic processors and consumer brands, organic flavor makers and fertilizer producers, organic certifiers and organic fiber stakeholders.

Key Points: 
  • Fifty members of the Organic Trade Association representing the entire organic supply chain recently met virtually with some 30 lawmakers to make sure that the organic sectors remarkable advancement continues.
  • The National Organic Standards Board has also expressed unanimous support for the bill, saying the legislation respects the work of NOSB in clarifying and updating national organic standards.
  • It lays out a road forward for organic through three areas:it requires USDA to clear the backlog of stalled organic standards put forth by the industry and recommended by the National Organic Standards Board; it establishes a new framework for advancing future organic standards; and it ensures consistent application of new standards from organic certifiers.
  • OTA is the leading voice for the organic trade in the United States, representing over 9,500 organic businesses across 50 states.