Contact: Barbara Haumann (bhaumann@ota.com; 802-275-3820)

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 14, 2013)— Speaking today to member-attendees of the Organic Trade Association’s (OTA’s) Policy Conference, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack officially recognized the unique production system covering U.S. organic agriculture, and announced guidance to remove agency obstacles to its continued growth.

Contact: Barbara Haumann (bhaumann@ota.com; 802-275-3820)

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 10, 2013)—The Organic Trade Association (OTA) has formally established a Farmers Advisory Council to provide input from small- to medium-sized organic farmers, ranchers and growers to the trade association on matters geared to advancing organic agriculture.

Contact: Barbara Haumann (bhaumann@ota.com; 802-275-3820)

BRATTLEBORO, VT (May 1, 2013) — The Organic Trade Association (OTA) is currently seeking nominations for its prestigious Organic Leadership Awards. This is your opportunity to nominate an organic unsung hero who has made a significant difference to organic agriculture, industry and trade.

Trust in the USDA Organic seal reaches an all-time high among organic buyers

Contact: Barbara Haumann (bhaumann@ota.com; 802-275-3820)

Washington, D.C., (April 4, 2013)— U.S. families are increasingly embracing organic products in a wide range of categories, with 81 percent now reporting they purchase organic at least sometimes. This finding is one of many contained in the Organic Trade Association’s (OTA’s) newly released 2013 U.S. Families’ Organic Attitudes and Beliefs Study, conducted Jan. 18-24, 2013.

Contact: Barbara Haumann (bhaumann@ota.com; 802-275-3820)

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 19, 2013)—Results from the latest consumer survey conducted for the Organic Trade Association (OTA) reveal that as U.S. families are becoming increasingly aware of the presence of unlabeled genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in foods in the marketplace, they turn to organic as the food labeled by law to not have been made with genetically engineered ingredients.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 15, 2013)—The Organic Center has named 15 persons to its new Board of Trustees, and formally introduced them at its sold-out fundraiser dinner March 9 held in conjunction with Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, CA.

Contact: Barbara Haumann (bhaumann@ota.com; 802-275-3820)

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 5, 2013)—The Organic Center has signed an agreement with U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) for ARS scientists to conduct targeted research on the factors affecting the presence of arsenic in organically grown rice. Making this research possible is a $50,000 grant to The Organic Center from the newly formed UNFI Foundation.

Newly created position will provide scientific leadership to advance organic food and farming

Contact: Barbara Haumann (bhaumann@ota.com; 802-275-3820)

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Feb. 19, 2013)—The Organic Center today named Jessica Shade, Ph.D., to serve in its newly created position of Director of Science Programs. She begins working for The Organic Center today.

Changes to federal crop insurance program arrive just in time for beleaguered Southern Plains farmers

Contact: Angela Jagiello (802-275-3831)

BRATTLEBORO, Vt. (Jan. 31, 2013) — U.S. organic cotton production contracted in 2011, due in large part to the sweeping drought in the Southern Plains, according to the 2011 and Preliminary 2012 U.S. Organic Cotton Production & Marketing Trends report conducted by the Organic Trade Association.

OTTAWA: January 29, 2013 — Two of Canada’s longest-running organic organizations today announced that they are streamlining and centralizing their efforts to better represent Canada’s organic sector in Ottawa. The Canadian Organic Growers (COG) and Canada Organic Trade Association (COTA) will build upon their history of collaboration while also sharing office space and resources in the nation’s capital.

Contact: Barbara Haumann (bhaumann@ota.com; 802-275-3820)

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Oct. 22, 2012) — A clinical report published online today by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) highlighting the many attributes of organic foods provides guidance to parents confused by conflicting marketing messages regarding healthy food choices for their children. Calling the report a major milestone for the organic sector, the Organic Trade Association (OTA) hails it as a confirmation of the significance of the benefits that organic provides.

BRATTLEBORO, VT (Oct. 11, 2012)—The Organic Trade Association’s (OTA) 2012 Annual Fund campaign grew by nearly 25 percent this year over the previous year to reach a new record. Funds raised will go towards OTA’s government relations, consumer education, and media outreach work in the United States and Canada.

Two independent organizations will maintain separate missions dedicated to advancing organic

Contact: Barbara Haumann (802-275-3820)

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Sept.5, 2012)—Effective Sept. 1, The Organic Center is combining efforts with the Organic Trade Association (OTA) and relocating its headquarters from Boulder, CO, to Washington, D.C. The Organic Center will remain an independent non-profit 501(c) (3), but now will be under the administrative auspices of OTA.