Organic Trade Association Wins Funding to Promote US Organic Globally
USDA awards $1 million-plus in 2023 Market Access Program fund
The Organic Trade Association (OTA) received a record level of funding of more than $1 million from the US Department of Agriculture’s Market Access Program (MAP) to promote US organic products around the world in 2023. The award, totaling $1,011,911 in new funding to the association, is an almost 10% increase from the 2022 levels, and the largest MAP award ever received by OTA.
“The Organic Trade Association is proud to have been an official cooperator in USDA’s Market Access Program for more than 20 years, leading to huge wins for the organic industry,” said Sarah Gorman, international trade manager for OTA. “Our market promotion efforts have created opportunities that have generated millions of dollars in new sales and expanded global market access for our participating businesses, establishing new organic customers around the world.”
“Our nation’s organic farmers benefit from global trade,” said Tom Chapman, CEO of OTA. “Connecting organic producers and businesses with developing and often untapped organic markets and educating consumers everywhere about the benefits of U.S. organic help keep organic profitable and sustainable.”
Global demand for American produced organic products has never been greater. Department of Agriculture statistics show the value of US organic exports nearly doubled between 2011 and 2021 – increasing from around $400 million to just over $700 million – including an almost 10% increase from 2020 to 2021. Canada and Mexico are the United States’ largest export partners, with Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, the EU, and United Arab Emirates all making the top 10 list for U.S. organic exports.
Full plate of global activities in 2023
The association will be showcasing American-produced organic products to a wide and diverse global audience in the coming year. OTA currently has 10 international activities planned for 2023 -- from the world’s biggest organic trade fair in Germany to trade missions stretching across Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
Some of the key promotional events planned for 2023 include:
• BIOFACH. The Organic Trade Association has long had a strong presence at the world’s largest trade fair devoted to organic, which takes place yearly in Nuremberg, Germany. This stellar event leads off the new year on February 14-19, and annually draws tens of thousands of attendees from more than 100 nations. OTA had amazing success at the fair this past year. The organic businesses showcased in OTA’s pavilion reported projected sales totaling more than $18 million.
• FOOD & HOTEL Asia. This is the largest international food and hospitality event in Asia. Taking place next year in Singapore on April 25-28, it attracted more than 80,000 attendees from across the globe in September, which also marked OTA’s debut at the venue. American organic made a big splash at its introductory appearance. A massive success for a first showing, OTA-sponsored companies projected sales totaling over $4.5 million, including over $150,000 of on-site sales.
• Expo West, Expo East and Organic Produce Summitt buyers’ missions. These one-of-a-kind opportunities, made possible by OTA, connect international buyers of organic goods in one-on-one meetings with US organic suppliers. Taking place in early spring and fall at the well-attended Natural Products Expos on the West and East coasts and the Organic Produce Summit, the meetings provide a unique opportunity for organic buyers and sellers to discuss potential business partnerships.
In addition to the headline events in 2023, the trade association will also continue its six consumer promotion activities focused on Canada, Japan, Korea, the Pacific Rim, and overall worldwide organic education and promotion.
OTA’s member companies provides the bulk of all US organic exports. The market promotion activities administered by the association are open to the entire organic industry, however, not just members.
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