Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
WINTER 2015
ORGANIC
Addressing
Organic
Supply
Challenges
FRON T PIECE
Build in g B ri dges
Laura Batcha
OTAs CEO/Executive Director
Contributors
Laura Batcha, Amy Bovaird, Tracy Campany,
Henry Chen, Steve Crider, Kelly Damewood,
Matthew Holmes, Angela Jagiello, Marni
Karlin, Nathaniel Lewis, Linda Lutz, Tracy
Misiewicz, Monique Marez, Maggie McNeil,
Jane Rabinowicz, Linda Richards, Jessica
Shade, Kelly Taveras, Gwendolyn Wyard,
and Tessa Young.
Editor: Barbara Haumann
Design & Production: Lynne Rudi
Copyright 2015, Organic Trade
Association
The Organic Report is published by the
Organic Trade Association as a service to
its members and the organic community.
Re-publication of short excerpts is permitted
without fee. Contact Organic Trade
Association staff to arrange for use of longer
material.
The material contained in this magazine is
for the information of OTA members.
Although the information is believed to be
correct, OTA disclaims all responsibility for
any damage or reliance on the information
contained in this publication.
ORGANIC TRADE ASSOCIATION
Headquarters
Hall of The States, 444 N. Capitol St., NW
Suite 445A, Washington, DC 20001
Member Services
28 Vernon St., Suite 413,
Brattleboro, VT 05301
Web: www.ota.com E-mail: info@ota.com
Phone: 802-275-3800 Fax: 802-275-3801
Contents
FEATURES
4
14
22
29
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Organic PAC
Organic-Palooza
END PIECE
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REGULATORY
16
17
LEGISLATIVE
29
18
EXPORT PROMOTION
36
43
DEPARTMENTS
20
21
24
25
26
32
40
41
New Products
News Bites
Display Ads
5, 7, 12, 13, 15, 19,
32, 33, 34, 42
By Maggie McNeil
very year, more than 150 applicants from around
the country seek admission to the now 48-year-old organic
farm apprenticeship program at the Santa Cruz campus of
the University of California. In Iowa, organic farmers of all ages and
experience levels have been gathering for almost 15 years in the fall at
the University of Iowa to share tips on
organic farming. Across the state of
Georgia, farmers who want to make
the move into organic are
participating in a brand new program
sponsored by the Georgia
Department of Agriculture that will
pay the costs of obtaining organic
certification.
Throughout the country, programs
old and new are underway to grow
organic acreage and boost organic
outputby teaching current and future
farmers about organic production,
helping to ease the financial burdens of
transitioning into organic, better
disseminating the latest information
and research on organic to organic
stakeholders, and building and
strengthening networks that link
organic farmers to each other and to
the public and private services that can
assist them in their operations.
And these efforts have paid off.
Since the early 1990s, the number of
acres in the U.S. in organic cropland
or organic pastures has risen from
under a million to now almost 5.5
million, according to the U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA).
There are now some 15,000 farmers
and ranchers in this country engaged
in organic production, and another
3,000-plus farmers in the process of
converting to organic.
But while organic acreage has
posted a noteworthy fivefold increase,
it still amounts to less than 1 percent
of the nations more than 900 million acres of crops and pastures.
Production of organic produce and organic dairy output have
increased by double digits, but organic output of corn, soybean,
wheat and other major field crops has risen only negligibly.
In the meantime, demand for organic products has soared by
more than 30 times. Annual organic sales amounted to less than a
billion dollars back in the 1990s; by 2013, the U.S. organic market
had ballooned to more than $35 billion. In 2015, it shows no signs of
slowing.
In fact, the biggest constraint for organic demand has
become tight organic supplies.
How we build the bridge between demand and the lack of
raw organic commodity is the organic industrys most critical
challenge, says Laura Batcha, CEO and Executive Director of
the Organic Trade Association (OTA). It is very hard not to
hear about supply shortages across the boardfrom
processors, from retailers. Despite these shortages, however,
OTA forecasts a 15 percent growth in organic demand this
year, with the often-scarce supplies holding the reins on even
greater growth.
Helping
organic
grow
Field days and farmers trainings are part of efforts to encourage new and
existing farmers on organic farming practices.
Photo: Midwest Organic & Sustainable Education Service.
organic farming.
Fortunately, more help is becoming
available to assist farmers in moving to
organic.
The 2014 Farm Bill was viewed as a
coming of age for organic. This
massive legislation, which OTA fought
hard to get passed and made into law,
contains important gains for the organic
industry. These advances include
unprecedented funding increases for
several organic programsmore
assistance with organic certification
costs, an expansion of organic research
and data collection, improvements in
technical assistance and crop
insuranceand the authorization to
USDA to consider an application for an
organic check-off program.
In a major step forward for the
organic industry, and in large part the
result of intense lobbying by OTA,
USDAs National Agricultural Statistics
Service (NASS) is conducting a
comprehensive survey of the U.S.
organic agricultural sector in early
January. The 2014 Organic Survey will
be mailed to all known organic
producers in the United States, and will
look at aspects from organic production
and marketing practices to income and
expenses. The 2014 survey follows the
2008 Organic Production Survey. Full
surveys of the organic sector are planned
Organic Report Winter 2015
RETAILERS RA MP UP THEI R O F F ER I NG S
PRICE DROPS
Along with Walmarts plan, other
retailers are noting lower pricing.
Costcos business model has relied on
lower margins than, for example, the
specialty food retailer Whole Foods.
Costco can provide its shoppers more
savings in organic purchases with its
lower mark-up.
This past fall, Whole Foods began a
trial of reducing prices in its more
competitive markets. We feel like were
matching toe-to-toe with all of our
competition where were doing these
[pricing] tests, said David Cannon,
Executive Vice President of Operations,
in the companys November earnings
call. At that time, Cannon said
customers were responding, and
purchases were up.
10
Phil LaRocca (front, far right) and his neighbors, friends, employees and family worked together
to pick the small Pinot Noir harvest in 2014. Photo: Phaedra LaRocca Morrill.
By Barbara Haumann
n normal times, 70 to 90 farm
workers show up at harvest time
and wait to be chosen to fill the
45 grape picking positions at the organic
LaRocca Vineyards in California,
according to owner Philip LaRocca.
These are not normal times. When the
grapes were ready for picking during
this past harvest, no one showed up.
I am in my 30th year of owning my
own organic winery. I knew labor was
short, but this was shocking, he recalls.
After he knocked on a lot of doors,
his vineyard was able to get a 14-worker
picking crew made up of parolees.
What happened at LaRoccas
vineyard has become an increasingly
widespread problem across agriculture.
A 2013 report entitled The Paradox
Organic Report Winter 2015
11
A WIDESPREAD CHALLENGE
Every year, the labor shortage has been
getting worse. It has been getting
progressively harder, and the pool of
workers is shrinking. Everyone is trying to
get workers from that pool, and you have
to grab them when you can and you are
dependent on when the harvest is ready,
says LaRocca, who has farmed for 47
years.
LaRocca recalls that in the early days
of his business, there was a workers
program that gave temporary work visas
to immigrants willing to do farm labor.
That doesnt exist anymore.
The government isnt making the
labor situation any easier, says LaRocca,
urging that steps be taken to free up the
borders so that the U.S. agricultural
sector will have more access to laborers
eager to work.
When skill and labor shortages
arent met, the economy suffers, the
Brookings report says. A smart
immigration system can help prevent
this by filling needs so companies can
S M U CK ER N AT U RA L F OODS , I N C
12
But we now need to make sure our hard-won provisions in the 2014 Farm Bill are
implemented. OTA policy staff advocates on your behalf every day with
national policymakers and regulators.
I think we should let consumers make their own decisions about what
kinds of foods they purchase, and if theres a market for organic products,
we should support it.
Rep. Reid Ribble (R-WI), The New York Times, March 8, 2014
OTA turned up its public and media relations activities in 2014 to full throttle, resulting in
several major media placements and its rst-ever social media festival, reaching over 15
million consumers, media, thought-leaders and bloggers.
OF PARENTS TURN TO
SOCIAL MEDIA TO SHARE
INFORMATION AND IDEAS
ABOUT ORGANIC
OTA is actively engaged in important regulatory issues and works closely with regulators to
ensure our food system meets the needs of organic consumers and that proposed solutions align with regulations being
followed by organic farmers. Were up against biotech companies with real money, which requires resources and expertise
to ght back.
OTAs Farmer Advisory Council (FAC) gives a powerful voice to producers and enables them to collaborate on critical issues.
OTA worked with organic certicate holders to ne-tune a framework for an organic research and promotion program
(aka check-off) to support additional transition to organic acreage and promote the benets of organic agriculture.
We need to pay attention to growing the marketplace, to growing the infrastructure and
having the research tools in place for organic farmers to solve technical problems, and thus to
grow more acres as well as more organic farmers.
Marty Mesh, Organic Farmer, Executive Director of Florida Organic Growers
and Consumers, Recepient of OTAs 2014 Growing the Organic Industry Award
YOU ARE CRUCIAL to all that OTA hopes to accomplish in 2015. Without your nancial
support, the progress that OTA has made on your behalf would not be possible. The
Annual Fund provides one-fth of your trade associations income.
Please join our unied voice and support the 2015 Annual Fund Campaign
at ota.com/support-ota.
FEAT URE
By Linda Richards
n 2002, Hans Hess set out to
change the world. His mission:
organic, grass-fed, antibiotic-free
beef that not only tasted better than
grain-fed beef, but was healthier for
humans and environmentally kind to the
planet. Opening his first restaurant
outside Washington, D.C., Elevation
Burger became the first organic burger
chain in the country.
Its also the largest organic burger
chain, with 50 franchises at the end of
2014. In each store, the organic beef is
ground on the premises, the French fries
are fresh cut and fried in Bertolli olive
oil, and two veggie burger options are
offered.
As the chain grew, Hess
realized it was time for
the chain to evolve from
its founder, family-run
roots. In early 2014,
Rick Altizer, a former
McDonalds
executive who had
managed 500
franchises, was hired
as the new CEO to
move the
company into a
professionally
managed growth
stage, with Hess chairing
the board.
Im looking to add
more talent each year over
the next three to four years,
says Altizer. But hes also clear about
his main objectiveto make Elevation
Burger the best burger on the planet,
and for the planet.
14
QUALITY SOURCING
Elevation Burger restaurants are built
and equipped using environmentally
sustainable and non-hazardous
construction and operating practices.
Franchisees donate used olive oil for
biodiesel fuel instead of selling to third
parties that could potentially include
animal feed. Altizer says they will be
expanding sustainability practices in the
future, but its the way cattle are treated
that is the most important feature.
As Elevation Burgers website states,
free-range cattle ranching is the only
humane, natural way to raise cattle. The
company emphasizes that the organic
beef from grass-fed cattle contains
higher levels of healthy Omega-3 fatty
acids, fewer calories, and tastes better
than conventionally raised beef. The
cattle are free of antibiotics, and the land
has seen no application of synthetic
fertilizers and pesticides.
As the market and demand for
organic beef continue to grow, Elevation
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Organic Report Winter 2015
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15
REGULATORY U PDATE
he National Organic
Programs (NOPs)
organic plate is full and the pace is
set on HIGH, according to the Agency
Rule schedule published by the Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs.
Besides the origin of livestock rules,
NOP plans to release proposed
aquaculture standards in February,
proposed pet food standards by the end
of April, and proposed apiculture
standards in July.
But thats not all. We also know NOP
is working to get a proposed rule out on
animal welfare standards as well as final
and draft guidance on a number of
critical issuessuch as nanotechnology
and classification of farm and handling
inputsimpacting the organic sector.
With only two years left under the
Obama Administration and several
unknown changes to come, time is of
the essence. Not surprisingly, the
rigorous schedule of final actions NOP
is working under is slated for
completion by the end of 2016.
The good news for NOP is that
most of the heavy lifting in terms of
writing the proposed rules is done.
Although NOP is still in the process of
drafting the animal welfare standards
based on National Organic Standards
Board (NOSB) recommendations, the
other four have left NOPs office for
legal review and hopefully clearance,
followed by a final review from the
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB). Once the administrative
hurdles are cleared, they will be posted
for public review and comment.
The release of the proposed rules
scheduled for 2015 is a major milestone
for NOP and the organic sector at large.
Not only will these new standards open
up new markets, help to ensure
consistency in certification, and
16
ORIGIN OF LIVESTOCK
The current regulations provide two
tracks for replacing dairy animals, tied
to how dairy farmers transition to
organic production. Farmers who
transition an entire distinct herd must
thereafter replace dairy animals with
livestock that has been under organic
management from the last third of
gestation. Farmers who do not
transition an entire distinct herd may
perpetually obtain replacement animals
that have been managed organically for
12 months prior to marketing milk or
milk products as organic.
The proposed action we expect to
see would eliminate the two-track
system and require that upon transition,
all existing and replacement dairy
animals from which milk or milk
products are intended to be sold,
labeled, or represented as organic must
be managed organically from the last
third of gestation. NOP is scheduled to
release a proposed rule in January 2015
and a final rule by May 2016.
OTA, through its task force process,
wrote a White Paper on this topic in
2011 and submitted it to NOP to assist
with drafting the proposed rule. In
continuation of our work and strong
support for a consistently implemented
standard, OTA will convene its task
force and engage members once again to
develop OTAs comments on this critical
topic.
AQUACULTURE
Currently, U.S. organic standards do not
exist for either wild-caught or farm-raised
fish. However, the Organic Foods
Production Act (OFPA) does include
seafood, making the creation of organic
standards possible. In 2005, the Secretary
of Agriculture appointed an Aquaculture
Working Group to advise NOSB on
drafting a recommendation on the
production of organic farmed aquatic
animals. NOSB considered the
Aquaculture Working Groups draft
recommendations and provided USDA
with a series of five recommendations
from 2007-2009 for technical standards
for the production and certification of
organic farmed aquatic animals.
Based on NOSB recommendations,
this action proposed to establish
standards for organic production and
certification of farmed aquatic animals
and their products in USDA organic
regulations. This action would also add
aquatic animals as an area of certification
and accreditation under NOP. NOP is
scheduled to release a proposed rule and
open comment period in February and a
final rule by July 2016.
Although OTA doesnt have any
members farming aquatic animals, it
remains committed to organic standards
incorporating the fundamental tenets of
organic production such as ecological
balance, environmental stewardship and
preference for natural substances.
PET FOOD
In 2004, NOSB initiated the development
of organic pet food standards by forming
a task force that included pet food
manufacturers and organic consultants.
Collectively, these experts drafted organic
pet food standards consistent with OFPA,
Food and Drug Administration
requirements, and the Association of
American Feed Control Officials
(AAFCO) Model Regulations for Pet and
Specialty Pet Food. The AAFCO
regulations are scientifically based
regulations for voluntary adoption by
Organic Report Winter 2015
APICULTURE
This action proposes to amend the
organic regulations to reflect an October
2010 NOSB recommendation
concerning the production of organic
apicultural (beekeeping) products.
Currently, certifying agents adapt the
organic livestock standards to certify
organic apiaries. Instead of continuing to
allow certifying agents to certify
apiculture to the organic livestock
standards, this action would establish
certification standards specifically for
organic bees and bee products.
NOP is scheduled to release a
proposed rule and open comment
period in July, and a final rule by
December 2016. Ultimately, this action
will help ensure consistency across
certifying agents in the inspection and
certification of apiculture operations.
OTA strongly supports the clear
establishment of apiculture as a unique
production system within the organic
regulations, and looks forward to
engaging members when the proposed
rule is released.
ANIMAL WELFARE
STANDARDS
The organic regulations include practice
standards for livestock health and living
conditions. They require that
accommodation for an animals health
and natural behavior forms the
foundation of any organic livestock
REGULATORY ACTION
TIMELINE
NOP rules in clearance
Origin of Livestock Proposed
Rule
NPRM*: Dec 2014
Final Action: May 2016
Aquaculture Proposed Rule
NPRM: Feb 2015
Final Action: July 2016
Pet Food Proposed Rule
NPRM: April 2015
Final Action: August 2016
Apiculture
NPRM: July 2015
Final Action:
December 2016
*NPRM: Notice of Proposed Rule
Making
OTHER RULES IN
PROGRESS FOR
2015
Animal Welfare
OTHER STANDARDS
PROJECTS FOR 2015
Final NOP Guidance
Classification of Materials
Permitted Substance List
for Organic Crop Production
Post-Harvest Handling
Draft NOP Guidance,
Policy
Responding to pesticide
drift
Nanotechnology
17
LEGISLATIV E RE PO RT
N ew Ye a r, N e w Con g res s
Introducing a new generation of leaders to organic
By Marni Karlin
OTAs Vice President of
Government Affairs/
General Counsel
ts an odd-numbered
year, which means no
national electionsbut
its time again to welcome a new class of
Representatives and Senators to our
nations capital. While this could be seen
as a challenge (many experienced
Senators and Members of Congress have
moved on), I prefer to see it as an
opportunity to teach a new generation of
legislators about organic, our businesses
18
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19
20
manage
soil
fertility,
moisture,
and weed, pest, and disease control.
Organic crops grown in the Northern
Great Plains typically are consumed
elsewhere after organic food
manufacturers have transformed them
into bread, pasta, and hummus. These
farmers need educational resources:
extension service on how to best manage
crop rotations, meaningful crop insurance
products to provide a safety net to their
operations, and profitable markets for all
crops grown in rotation, not only wheat.
The two projects contrast in their
scope but not in their goals, and we
anticipate they will form a template for
future regional projects in the Midwest,
Mid-Atlantic, and Pacific Northwest.
Each region faces its own unique
challenges for growing organic supply,
and will require its own approach.
Meanwhile, FAC is planning another
all-day Summit prior to OTAs 2015
Policy Conference in April in D.C. We
will continue the conversation on
growing the organic grain supply, and
also discuss how organic farmers might
lead the way in agricultural water
conservation efforts in the Central Valley
of California, and how to best work with
USDAs Risk Management Agency so that
crop insurance for organic farmers
actually takes into account the inherent
complexity of organic operations and the
true value of organic crops.
We look forward to another year of
capacity building for the Farmers
Advisory Council in its mission to elevate
the voices of organic producers
nationwide and to serve as a vehicle to
disseminate important information
relevant to organic farmers. The
continued growth of the organic sector
hinges on providing farmers with the
support they need to remain profitable
including developing new markets for
rotation crops. Eating rotationally and
regionally should be a goal of all organic
consumers wishing to support the wholefarm approach of organic production. //
Organic Report Winter 2015
21
THE ORG A N I C CE N T E R
RESOLUTIONS:
more antioxidants.
Antioxidants protect our
cells against the effects of
free radicals, which can
damage cells in the body
and trigger disease.
STOP BEE
POPULATION
DECLINE
Commercial beekeepers now lose an
average of 30 percent of their
colonies each winter. This poses a
problem for bee-pollinated crops
such as almonds, apples, cucumbers,
avocados, oranges, and berries. One
of the major contributors to bee
deaths is exposure to pesticides,
particularly neonicotinoids. In 2014,
a new study published by Harvard
researchers found further evidence
of the link between neonicotinoid
use and colony collapse disorder.
BE HEALTHMINDED BY
EATING
ORGANIC
An investigative team
reviewing current
research on the effects
of organic agriculture
and crops on public
health found a clear
health advantage of
consuming organic.
Published in the
International Journal
of Environmental
Research and Public Health, findings concluded that lower
pesticide residues in organic produce may be a significant factor
in helping account for those benefits.
INCREASE YOUR
ANTIOXIDANT
INTAKE
One of the most interesting
studies showed organic fruit
and vegetables have higher
levels of antioxidants.
Researchers showed that if
you choose organic rather
than conventional fruits and
vegetables, you can get an
average of 20-40 percent
22
HELP MITIGATE
CLIMATE CHANGE
Research shows good news for
climate change mitigation:
organically managed soils could
reverse the trend of increasing
CO2 in the atmosphere!
Conducted by the Rodale Institute, the research takes an in-depth
look at how farming systems affect greenhouse gas emission and
illustrates the ability of soil to mitigate climate change when
managed organically.
LISTEN TO
THE BIRDS
AVOID TOXINS
SUPPORT
BIODIVERSITY
A study published in
the Journal of Applied
Ecology found that
organic farms support
more species than
conventional farms.
On average, organic
farms support 34
percent more plant, insect, and animal species than conventional
farms. When the researchers looked at pollinators such as bees
individually, they found that organic farms had 50 percent higher
species diversity.
015
promises to
be an exciting year
for science
supporting the benefit of
organic.
INTERNATIONAL
YEAR OF THE SOILS
Keep an eye out for more
research showing organic
farmings benefits to soil
health. The Organic Center
is collaborating with the
National Soil Project to test
organic matter on organic versus
conventional farms to quantify the
extent to which conventional fertilizers
have degraded soils. Interested in
donating samples (and receiving a free
soil analysis in return)? Instructions are
Organic Report Winter 2015
NITROGEN
POLLUTION
DIETARY EXPOSURE TO
PESTICIDE RESIDUES
23
FOC US O N FIB E R
24
BROKER
Foodguys
CERTIFIER
Northeast Organic Farming
Association/Vermont Organic
Farmers LLC
CONSULTANTS
Eightfold Group Inc.
Foods of the Earth Inc.
Kronick Moskovits
Tiedemann & Girard
DISTRIBUTORS
Fresh Direct Produce Ltd.
Plats du Chef
Tajima Ag
FARM SUPPLIES
Bio HumaNetics
Stockton Israel LTD
GROWERS/FARMERS
Organic Fresh
Pura Vida Farms
INGREDIENT
SUPPLIERS
Citrus Extracts Inc.
Food Ingredient Alliance
Grain Millers Canada Corp.
Natural Products Inc.
MANUFACTURERS
Blue Marble Ice Cream
Cal-Maine Foods Inc.
Litehouse Inc.
Maple Hill Creamery
Medicine Flower
PACA Foods Inc.
Patagonia Provisions
Revive Drinks
NON-PROFIT
Fairtrade America
ORGANIC FIBER
Boil & Branch
Green Outfitters
PERSONAL CARE
Everyday Happy
Tomboy Organic Skincare Co.
RETAILERS
Brattleboro Food Coop
Elles Bakeria
SUPPORT SERVICES
Improvonia Inc.
Paragus Strategic IT
25
C ANAD A NE W S
O rg an ic Week Rec ap
26
CANADAS
ORGANIC &
ECOLOGICAL
SEED
MARKET
GR
OW
ERS
$9.1
C GROWERS
$1
RO
ORGANI
ER
S $ 1 9.2
VEGETABLE SEED
$28 MILLION
1.6
E C O L OGI
EC
OL
OG
ICA
SAVED FIELD
CROP SEED
$30 MILLION
CA
OR
IC
By Jane Rabinowicz
USC Canada
AN
ORG
A fond fa r e w e ll !
PROFILE ON
COTA PARTNER:
THE BAUTA FAMILY
INITIATIVE ON CANADIAN
SEED SECURITY
EC
LG
R
OWE
RS $18.5
AN
IC
GRO
W ER S $7.
7
PURCHASED
FIELD CROP SEED
$20 MILLION
M
3
OLO
G I C A L G R OW
ERS
TOTAL VALUE
$78 MILLION
27
$1
2.
PARLIAMENT DAY
COTA held its annual Parliament Day in Ottawa October 28-29, 2014. Members of
Parliament, Senators and their staff joinedorganic representatives to toast the
sectors growth at the all-organic reception hosted by COTA in the Parliament
Buildings. Attendees also took in COTAs Policy Conference, provided testimony at
the House Standing Committee on Agriculture, and met directly with Members of
Parliament to raise organics profile with them.
THINK RIGHTS
TRANSFERRED
TO COTA
Agriculture and
Agri-Food Canada
officially transferred
all assets and
ownership of the
Think Before You Eat:
Think Canada Organic campaign to
COTA during 2014. The campaign was
developed by the Organic Value Chain
Roundtable as a generic promotional
marketing campaign for Canadian
organic products.
COTA launched the Think website
in March 2014, and coordinated a
further rollout of the campaign during
Organic Week 2014 along with national
and regional partners.
28
A Champi o n fo r O r g a n i c:
Melissa Hughes, President of OTAs Board
Hughes
Melissa
General
29
Sarah Bird
Vice President
USA
arah is Chief
Commercial
Officer of Ecologic
Brands Inc., a
sustainable
packaging
company. A
veteran of consumer packaged goods
marketing, Sarah most recently was
Chief Marketing Officer at Annies Inc.
She has a long career in the organic
industry, is a staunch advocate of a
unified voice to drive consumer trust
and understanding of organic, and is
dedicated to helping grow and protect
the organic sector.
Dag Falck
Vice President
Canada
ag is
Organic
Program Manager
for Natures Path
Foods. He brings
decades of
experience and
perspective as a leader, organic
inspector and food manufacturer. He
says that the huge growth in the global
organic market makes it critical to
ensure that strict government-enforced
organic standards continue to build
consumer confidence at home, and
open new organic opportunities in
other markets.
30
Tony Bedard
Treasurer
ony is Chief
Executive
Officer for Iowabased Frontier
Co-op, a leading
supplier in
natural and
organic herbs,
spices and aromatherapy products
under the Frontier, Simply Organic,
Aura Cacia and Aura Cacia Organics
brands. Tony, who grew up on a family
farm in Iowa, says he learned long ago
that the organic industry begins with
farmers, and says the industry needs a
strong trade association to protect and
promote its best interests.
Melody Meyer
Secretary
elody is
Vice
President Policy
& Industry
Relations for
UNFI, the
leading national
distributor of
organic and natural foods and specialty
food products in the United States and
Canada. Melody has been attracted to
and involved in the organic food
industry for over 30 years, with a lifelong
goal to promote the growth of organic
trade to benefit consumers, growers and
the environment.
Ryan Benn
yan is
president
of Teldon Media
Group and alive
Publishing
Group, leaders in
Canadas health
and wellness
publishing sector
for 39 years. Ryans approach to
business embodies a combination of
vision and execution, and his
commitment to giving consumers the
tools they need to live healthier and
happier lives has translated into his
work with OTA to help educate the
public about organic.
Samantha
Cabaluna
amantha is
Vice
President of
Marketing,
Public Relations
and
Communication
for Earthbound
Farm, the countrys leading grower of
organic produce. A long-time organic
consumer, Samantha has immersed
herself in issues surrounding organic
farming and is an ardent advocate for
organic and the mission to bring the
benefits of organic food to as many
people as possible.
Organic Report Winter 2015
Perry Clutts
Farmer Board Seat
erry is
owner of
Pleasantview Farm,
his familys certified
organic dairy
operation in Ohio.
Perry has been a
passionate supporter and fully engaged
member of the organic community for
15 years, transitioning his familys 133year-old farm to an organic grass-based
dairy, and wants to use his resources and
knowledge to further promote organic
through advocacy and working with
OTA.
Nicole Dawes
im is Senior
Manager of
Compliance and
Industry Relations
for Smucker
Natural Foods. Kim
has been involved
in organic farming
sustainability her
entire life, and has over 30 years
experience and expertise regarding
organic and non-GMO compliance and
standards. Her commitment to organic
has been demonstrated in her voluntary
work with OTA throughout her career,
both as a leader and a participant.
Organic Report Winter 2015
Christopher Ely
hris is cofounder of
Applegate Farms
LLC, the leading
organic and natural
deli and meat
company in
America. Chris is
committed to
organic farming. Through discussions at
ag schools and universities and working
with the Rodale Institute, he is
introducing young and potential farmers
to alternative farming systems and
promoting organic farming as the better
choice for the environment, the
economy and consumers.
Marci Zaroff
arci is
founder of
Under the Canopy
and president of the
Portico Brand
Group, makers of
organic, ecofriendly textiles,
apparel, and home
furnishing manufactured by socially
responsible methods.For over two
decades, Marci has been a visionary,
authority and ambassador of an
organic/sustainable lifestyle, and is
working with OTA to protect and build
the organic industry.
Leslie Zuck
Jesse Laflamme
esse is founder
of New
Hampshire-based
Pete & Gerrys
Organics LLC, the
parent company for
both Pete & Gerrys
Organic Eggs and
Nellies Cage-Free
Eggs brands. Under his stewardship
since returningto the family farm in
2001, Pete & Gerrys has become a
leader in sustainable organic food
production, and Jesse is an advocate for
small family farms and small-scale
organic food production.
eslie is
co-founder of
Pennsylvania
Certified Organic
(PCO) and has
been PCOs
Executive Director
for 17 years. A
lawyer and an
organic farmer for nearly 30 years, Leslie
has been involved with OTA for several
decades. She says everyone in the
organic community needs to pitch in to
keep the organic sector strong, and to
help OTA effectively protect and
preserve organic integrity in Washington
and around the world. //
Kelly Shea
elly is Vice
President of
Government &
Industry Relations
for WhiteWave
Foods, home to
pioneer organic
brands Silk Soymilk
and Horizon
Organic. A member of OTA for almost
20 years, Kelly stresses the importance of
the organic industry coming together as
a community with one voice to educate
the media, lawmakers and politicians,
and shoppers on the multiple benefits of
organic.
31
32
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OTA S OR GA NIC PA C
35
36
37
January 29:
Retailer Trends in France &
Japan, a Webinar!
February 10 14:
BioFach, Nuremburg, Germany
March 4 8:
OTA Reverse Trade Mission &
International Briefing at
Natural Products Expo West
April 14 16:
International Trade Data & Agency Visits
OTA Policy Conference 2015
May 12 15:
Seoul Hotel and Food Show, Seoul, Korea
TA is headed to the Seoul Hotel and Food Show for the first time
ever! South Korea and the U.S. signed an organic equivalency
arrangement in July 2014, and demand for organic in the prosperous
Asian country has never been higher. OTA will host a group of organic
producers in Korea, and lead importer-focused trainings on how to best
utilize this landmark agreement. Space for this show is extremely
limited, so express your interest immediately.
Summer 2015:
European Importer/Retailer Training
October 10 14:
Anuga, Cologne, Germany
39
N EW PRODU CTS
EAT SHOOTS &
LEAVES
THE NUNES
CO. has begun
shipments of an
organic broccoli
leaf product
BroccoLeaf
under its Foxy
label. We know how
fantastic broccoli leaves
are for the soil, but nobody
considered them a viable
produce item, says Tom
Nunes V, vice president
of operations for Foxy.
Everyone in our industrys been trying to
find the next kale, and BroccoLeaf has been
staring all of us in the face for decades. To
promote the launch, the Foxy brand and
registered dietician Ashley Koff are offering
recipes to show ways to prepare the organic
leaves. These appear on the Foxy website
and social media channels
(http://www.foxy.com/).
RICE PILAF
LUNDBERG FAMILY FARMS has added
three organic productsRice Pilaf
Original, Whole Grain Pilaf Original, and
Whole Grain Pilaf Toasted Almondto its
growing entre line. The organic and nonGMO verified entrees are sold in six-ounce
packages (www.lundberg.com).
ALL ABOUT
OATS
COUNTRY
CHOICE ORGANIC
now offers singleserve steel cut
organic oatmeal
flavors and glutenfree oatmeal
products. The
company has added
Apple Spice and
Maple & Brown
Sugar flavors to its line of single-serve steel
cut oatmeal pouches. In addition, it is
packing gluten-free old-fashioned and
steel-cut organic oats in traditional resealable canisters
(www.countrychoiceorganic.com).
40
PUMPKIN BITES
SJAAKS ORGANIC CHOCOLATES now
markets milk chocolate pumpkin spice bites
individually wrapped in orange foil and
packed in three-pound tubs. These treats
are organic and vegan (www.sjaaks.com).
BONE BROTHS
PACIFIC FOODS has
introduced a line of
organic ready-made
bone broth high in
protein and low in
calories. The five
flavors are organic
chicken with ginger,
organic chicken with
lemongrass, organic
chicken original
(unsalted), organic
turkey with rosemary,
sage & thyme, and
organic turkey
(unsalted). The 8- and 31-ounce bone
broths are packaged in BPA-free sceptic
cartons, while the 15.2-ounce broths are
packed in BPA-free recart cartons
(www.pacificfoods.com).
PIZZA BAGELS
ANNIES INC. has rolled out Mini Pizza
Bagels frozen pizza snacks at Target stores
nationwide. These contain 10 grams of
protein per serving and are made with
organic flour, organic tomatoes and organic
cheese (www.annies.com).
CRAZY AWESOME
FRONTIER CO-OPs Simple Organic
brand offers a set of three organic
vegetable-centric seasoning blends called
Crazy Awesome Veggies. The herb & spice
ORCHID FINERY
HARMONY ART has
created a new GOTScertified organic fabric
which it has named
Whispering Grass
Orchid. The 110-inch
wide organic cotton
sateen is available
through Organic Cotton
Plus. Coordinating with
this fabric is Harmony
Arts new Orchid pink
110-inch wide organic
cotton sateen, also
available through
Organic Cotton Plus
(www.harmonyart.com/,
www.organiccottonplus.com).
COCONUT PLEASURE
BOBS RED MILL NATURAL FOODS
provides organic coconut sugar as an
alternative sweetener made from the nectar
of coconut palm tree blossoms. This
product has a mellow caramel flavor
(www.bobsredmill.com). //
NEWS B ITE S
BUSINESS MILESTONES
Amys Kitchen has purchased a 500,000square-foot processing facility in Pocatello, ID.
General Mills has acquired OTA member
Annies Inc. in a $820 million deal. Annies
CEO and co-founder John Foraker has agreed
to stay on, and the brand will continue to
operate out of its offices in Berkeley, CA.
Boulder Brands Inc. is expanding its headquarters to make room for dozens of new
employees. Based in Boulder, CO, the publicly
traded company has grown its sales by 68 percent since 2011, posting 2013 annual sales of
$461 million, in part due to recent acquisitions. Since 2011, Boulder Brands has expanded its workforce from 70 to 720 by the end of
2013.
Deardorff Family Farms has expanded its
organic production base and added to its sales
team. On the supply side, the company has
increased organic production from Ventura
County and Imperial Valley in California and
from Mexico, to help meet increased customer
demand for year-round, high-quality organic
vegetable items. Meanwhile, it has hired Tyler
Clear to work in organic sales.
Honest Tea announced that it sourced more
than 6.5 million pounds of organic ingredients
in 2013, nearly 33 percent more than in 2012.
The volume of organic ingredients purchased
in 2013 represented an eight-fold increase over
the 790,000 pounds sourced in 2007, the year
prior to Coca-Cola assuming ownership.
Late July Organic Snacks is partnering with
Snyders-Lance in its Better for You division
focusing on healthy snacks. In doing so, it has
access to Snyders-Lances distribution channels and economies that will bring the brand
to a wider audience.
MOMS Organic Market opened its first store
in D.C., at 1501 New York Avenue NE, in
November.
National Co+op Grocers, formerly known as
National Cooperative Grocers Association,
has added two associate co-ops in
MinnesotaGood Earth Food Co-op in St.
Cloud and Spiral Natural Foods Co-op in
Hastingsto bring the total number of co-ops
in the association to 144 stores in 38 states.
Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage has purchased retailer Natures Pantry Inc. based in
Independence, MO.
Rodale Institute has earned Animal Welfare
Approved certification for its organic husbandry practices for pigs, laying hens and
dairy goats. The independent non-profit
MARKETING
Honest Tea has unveiled a new bottle and
label for its line of 16.9-oz. iced teas. In addition, it is unifying its 16.9-oz. line of beverages
by converting its Honest Ade juice-based
drinks into new herbal tea varieties. All the
brands teas and juice drinks are USDA certified organic, and all tea leaf varieties are Fair
Trade Certified.
UNFI has been chosen to supply organic
products for 25 convenient stores in the
Enmark Station chain in an effort by Enmark
Station to offer customers healthy snacking
options. Based in Savannah, GA, Enmark
operates 60 convenience stores in Georgia,
South Carolina, and North Carolina.
Whole Foods Market Inc. in October
launched its first national brand television
campaign to show consumers the values of
products offered in its stores. It also set up a
new website inviting consumers to take a brief
survey called What do you value?
OF NOTE
Cliff Bar Family Foundation donated $10,000
to the CCOF Foundation to support its Future
Organic Farmer Grant Fund. The fund provides grants to aspiring farmers enrolled in
organic-focused vocational and higher education programs.
Fetzer Vineyards has received platinum-level
Zero Waste certification from the U.S. Zero
Waste Business Council, becoming the
nations first winery to do so. Fetzer, one of the
worlds largest growers of certified organically
grown grapes, is a division of Vina Concha y
Toro S.A. Platinum certification recognizes
the company for successfully diverting 97.7
41
42
END PIECE
Four
seeds of
encouragement
43
ORGANIC
Report
PRST STD
US POSTAGE PAID
PERMIT #183
GREENFIELD, MA
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