Kick-off day 2 of Organic Week programming with a 5k loop around the National Mall! This CLIF BAR sponsored event is a great opportunity to see iconic D.C. monuments and have casual conversation with Organic Week participants, as well as Administration and other Hill staff, while getting some exercise and fresh air during a busy week! We hope you can join us for this free event – but please register if you plan to attend. Register here!

Take advantage of these Ask Me Anything office hours to connect with OTA and local D.C. agency staff to network and ask questions. Has Organic Week programming sparked a new idea that you’d like to brainstorm with others? Have a question about your hill visit meetings? Wondering what regulatory topics are on the NOSB agenda? Interested in utilizing OTA toolkits to help market organic products?  All these questions and more are welcome during Ask Me Anything Breakouts.  

How do the actions of Congress impact your business every day? Join ex-congressional staffers and current advocates on the Hill to talk Farm Bill, Appropriations, Bipartisan opportunities and challenges, and how all of these \things will impact the future of the organic sector. We might even ask folks to look into their crystal ball on what the future holds post-election. Hosted by OTA board member Britt Lundgren from Stonyfield, we will explore organic priorities and look for guidance and recommendations for how we can best show up at our meetings on Advocacy Day.

• Britt Lundgren | Senior Director of Sustainability and Government Affairs | Stonyfield Farm | OTA Board Member
• T.A. Hawks | Partner | Monument Advocacy 
• Dr. Melinda Cep | Vice President, Natural Solutions and Working Lands | The National Audubon Society

Organic is now a $67 billion industry, hitting another high-level mark for the resilient sector. With this growth comes new questions about how to effectively sustain the momentum of the movement. In order to address bottlenecks in domestic production, USDA is investing in growth strategies by awarding new Organic Market Development Grants (OMDG) to build domestic supply and ensure the industry is equipped to meet consumer demand . Join USDA officials and OMDG program participants to learn more about how the grants will increase the production capacity and demand for domestically produced organic agricultural products and address the critical need for additional paths to market.  

• Under Secretary Jenny Lester Moffitt | Market and Regulatory Programs | USDA

“Organic” is a term that has been used for over thirty years to demonstrate the prioritization of sustainable business practices, accountability, trust, and transparency to consumers. But diverse label claims that are stacking up on the front panel of many products are catching shoppers’ attention. The proliferation of eco labels and other claims in B2B discussions and on consumer-facing labels, promotes a wholistic change to agricultural systems but many of these claims have no universal or regulatory definition and they have varying degrees of verification. What do these trends in impact reporting mean for the organic sector, and what are the best methods for protecting the value and integrity of the organic label and promoting the benefits of organic practices in this competitive environment?

• Krista Kinder | VP of Brand Marketing & Communications | Organically Grown Company
• Dr. Derric Pennington | Senior Sustainability Scientist | Dept. of Applied Economics, University of Minnesota
• Paul Schiefer | President | Amy's Kitchen | OTA Board Community Relations Chair
• Carolyn Gahn | Senior Director, Mission & Advocacy | Applegate

OTA has been improving its communication of the benefits of organic to People, Planet, and Business. And yet perhaps the most important stakeholder in transforming farming, food and fiber isn’t those of us in attendance today, but the next generation. How do we work to ensure opportunity and access to the next generation of farmers, business entrepreneurs, and consumers? Who do we need at tomorrow’s table that is not well-represented today? A group of advocates and entrepreneurs will discuss their work in serving tomorrow’s stakeholders, and how we can invest today to improve future access to the benefits of organic.

• Dr. Kaia Shivers | Founder | Black Farmers Index
• Jessica Wright | VP of Product Intelligence | SPINS
• Jennifer Bryant | Program Manager, Black Employee Ownership Initiative | Project Equity
• Vanessa Garcia Polanco MS | Government Relations Director | National Young Farmers Coalition

The recent Strengthening of Organic Enforcement rule represents the most significant change to organic regulations since their inception, expanding the certification requirement to include brokers, retail supply chains, distributors, imports, and other parties previously exempt. Now, two months beyond its implementation, it's crucial to reflect on the initial impacts and glean lessons from the rollout.  What was successful and what was challenging?  How has enforcement fared in these initial stages? This session will include leading figures from the National Organic Program (NOP) and industry experts to review the early outcomes of this landmark rule change and look to the future for additional opportunities for improvement.  We'll delve into the vital balance between maintaining the integrity and trust in organic certification while ensuring the regulations do not become unduly burdensome to prevent market participation. Explore with us as we explore potential future course and opportunities for organic certification.

• Tom Chapman | Co-CEO | Organic Trade Association
• John Foster | Chief Operating Officer | Wolf and Associates
• Dr. Jenny Tucker | Deputy Administrator | National Organic Program, USDA
• Diana Kobus | Executive Director | Pennsylvania Certified Organic

Navigating the realm of organizations committed to organic research and technical assistance can be daunting. Entities like The Organic Center, Organic Farming Research Foundation, Organic Agronomy Training Service, and universities dedicated to organic research while seemingly overlapping, each contribute uniquely to the advancement of organic research and technical support. These organizations are each vital for enhancing organic agriculture's sustainability, productivity, and impact. This session is dedicated to demystifying the roles and efforts of these organizations and how you can be a part of the solution. Be part of the dialogue on the areas and needs for organic research, application, and education that will drive organic growth in the future.

• Amber Sciligo, PhD | Director of Science Programs | The Organic Center
• Gordon Merrick | Senior Policy & Programs Manager | Organic Farming Research Foundation
• Mallory Krieger | Executive Director | Organic Agronomy Training Service
• Erin Silva | Director | Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems & Associate Professor of Sustainable and Organic Cropping Systems | University of Wisconsin, Madison

The nutritional quality of food depends on a complex array of factors, including crop genetics, growing techniques, environment, and post-harvest handling and processing post-harvest. Panelists will discuss the increasing interest in “sustainable nutrition” and the potential of organic farming. 

• Tina Owens | Senior Advisor | Nutrient Density Alliance
• Kate Geagan | Co-Founder | Food + Planet
• Amari Thomsen | Director of Nutrition Marketing & Communications | Clif Bar & Company

To close out this jam-packed two days of conference programming, join us for a recap of these inspiring Organic Week sessions. We aim build on this momentum on the Hill during Advocacy Day, and leave D.C. inspired and motivated to continue growing and protecting organic from farm to marketplace.

• Matthew Dillon | Co-CEO | Organic Trade Association

Got a question about hill visits, how to talk to a congressperson, need more information on OTA talking points?  Talk with OTA's expert staff and other seasoned organic advocates to answer all your questions and to get tips for advocating on the hill.

PAC supporters are invited to attend our Organic PAC fundraising on Wednesday night. Organic PAC is the only political action committee devoted to advancing organic’s voice with policymakers in our nation’s capital. Become a PAC supporter today.