State of the Organic Industry

Thursday, 9/26, 10:00-11:00, Room 314

A business update for the organic industry. This session is presented by the OTA. 

ORPP: Next steps for evaluating a framework 

Thursday, 9/26, 11:30-12:45, Room 314

The USDA Organic seal is a common brand shared by over 17,000 organic operations in 50 states without dedicated marketing, research and development funding. OTA has facilitated a preliminary conversation to determine if there is a fair and equitable way to pool funds for the purpose of organic research and promotion. This session will explore the emerging options for a research and promotion program for organic. Don't miss this important opportunity to listen and weigh in! This session is presented by the OTA.

ORPP: Best in Class Research and Promotion 

Thursday, 9/26, 1:00 PM-2:00 PM, Room 314

The organic industry is currently exploring the possibility of a research and promotion order to support organic agriculture and products. This session will look at research and marketing programs developed by other checkoff programs and the results they have achieved. This session is brought to you by the OTA.

Organic retail certification

Thursday, 9/26, 1:00 PM-2:00 PM, Room 315

The National Organic Standards Board, a committee appointed by the USDA to advise the National Organic Program (NOP) on organic agrucultural policy, will soon publish guidance on organic certification for retailers. Regardless of whether a retailer chooses to be certified organic, they must follow NOP rules for handling their organic products. Come learn what your store must do to preserve the integrity of organic products and be in compliance with the law. This session presented by the OTA.

Farm Bill in Brief 

Thursday, 9/26, 2:15 PM-3:15 PM, Room 315

Congressional experts weigh in on the Farm Bill, how it will affect organic agriculture, and the programs relied on by farmers. This session presented by the OTA.

Apples and oranges: organic icons at risk 

Thursday, 9/26, 3:30 PM-4:30 PM, Room 315

Organic apples and oranges are iconic - staples of the produce aisle, fruit bowl and lunch box.  Pending changes to organic rules, and mandatory chemical sprays to control invasive species, will reduce organic growers' options for managing diseases that can quickly devastate entire orchards. Your two best-selling organic fruits may have many differences, but they are both at risk. Learn about the current challenges and the road ahead for organic tree fruit.  This session is briought to you by the OTA. 

COTA

Friday, 9/27, 10:00 AM-11:00 AM, Room 315

Matthew Holmes, COTA's Executive Director, hosts this panel illuminating all things newsworthy in Canadian Organics. This session is presented by the OTA

What's next: trends in organic 

Friday, 9/27, 10:30 AM-12:30 PM, Room 315

Our panel of organic prognosticators reveal their top trends to watch in 2013 and beyond. This session presented by the OTA.

The Organic Center: Research Showcase

Friday, 9/27, 2:00 PM-3:15 PM, Room 314

Join Jessica Shade, PhD., The Organic Center's Director of Science Programs, for an update on research relating to the human and environmental health benefits of organic. This session is presented by the OTA.

FSMA

Friday, 9/27, 2:30 PM-3:30 PM, Room 315

With the comment period having just passed for the latest round of proposed rules relating to the Food Safety Modernization Act, come hear what the major organic groups have recommended and learn about next steps for the law's implementation and the long term outlook for organic food products.  This session is presented by the OTA.

The Organic Center: Exploring Organic Research Needs 

Friday, 9/27, 3:30 PM-4:30 PM, Room 314

The Organic Center would like to hear from you about  research needed in the organic sphere. Following a showcase of some of the latest academic studies pertaining to organic, share your input about what we still need to know regarding nutrition, environmental outcomes, or other benefits of organic. This session is presented by the OTA.