Portland, Ore. — U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt attended the National Organic Standards Board fall meeting to highlight USDA’s investment in and support of the nation’s organic agricultural industry. USDA’s programs are opening new market opportunities for farmers, expanding consumer access to organic foods and helping producers take home a greater share of the food dollar.
“USDA recognizes how important it is to meet the growing consumer demand for organic goods and the unique position organic producers have in the marketplace,” said Moffitt. “Our investments through programs such as the Organic Market Development Grant program are ensuring more Americans have access to affordable organic foods and helping small and mid-sized producers gain access to new, profitable markets. I was excited to share these accomplishments with industry leaders at the National Organic Standards Board meeting.”
Under Secretary Moffitt highlighted the Organic Market Development Grant (OMDG) program which has, with the final awards announced in August, provided $85 million for 107 projects around the country. OMDG is supporting the development of new and existing organic markets to increase the consumption of domestic organic agricultural products. The projects funded through this program are expected to benefit more than 102,000 producers and increase 119 million people’s knowledge of organic products.
OMDG is part of USDA’s Organic Transition Initiative (OTI), a $300 million investment that delivers wrap-around technical assistance to producers interested in transitioning to organic. The initiative includes mentoring and advice, direct farmer assistance through conservation financial assistance, and targeted organic market development grants.
Among OTI’s comprehensive suite of programs is the Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP). TOPP supports farmers transitioning to organic by connecting them with mentors, providing community building, technical assistance, workforce development and helping producers overcome challenges during and following certification.