Re: Support for Organic in the Farm Bill
Dear Chairwoman Stabenow, Chairman Thompson, Ranking Member Boozman, and Ranking Member Scott,
Thank you for your continued diligent efforts in producing a Farm Bill in 2023. We know it can be difficult to accommodate the priorities of such a diverse group of interested parties. However, we wish to highlight the continued growth and success of the organic sector as part of domestic agriculture and request a fair share of resources in the final Farm Bill.
Data shows that American consumers want organic food: organic food sales surpassed $60 billion in 2022, and 4 out of 5 households across the country regularly purchase organic products. Yet only 0.1% of the $428 billion 2018 Farm Bill was dedicated to organic. We need to scale up these investments.
With targeted policies in the next Farm Bill, we could begin to meet consumer demand for organic with domestic production, rather than relying on imports. Growing domestic organic production will expand market opportunities for farmers, put organic food in reach for more families, protect our natural resources, and drive prosperity in our rural communities.
Organic agriculture is a time-tested and scientifically supported approach to farming and ranching that centers on ecological diversity, soil fertility, and natural systems. To label their products “organic,” producers must follow strict rules and keep meticulous records. Every certified organic farmer, rancher, and processor voluntarily pays annually for rigorous review and inspections by a third-party certifier that is approved by USDA. For many businesses, the hard work and costs to achieve organic certification are worth it; but the road is bumpy, and many more producers are missing market opportunities because the financial and technical barriers remain too high.
We urge you to deliver a level playing field for this growing sector by expanding support for organic in the next Farm Bill.
Sincerely,
A & W Farm Operations, Inc
Agri Management Center
Agriculture and Land-Based Training Association
Alianza Nacional de Campesinas
Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments
American Federation of Government Employees Local 3354
American Sustainable Business Network
Amity Highland Ranch
Anytime Foods
Arthur Dunham DVM
Bonterra Organic Estates
Blueberry Bottom Farm
BlueStem Organic Feed Mill
Bluestem Prairie Organic Hemp, LLC
Boulder Belt Eco-Farm
California Climate & Agriculture Network (CalCAN)
California Farmers Union
Californians Against Waste
Californians for Pesticide Reform
Carolina Farm Stewardship Association
Catskill Mountainkeeper
CCOF
Center for Food Safety
Central Plains Organic Farmers
Ceres Community Project
Charlie Kollasch Farm
Chipotle Mexican Grill
CleanEarth4Kids.org
Clif Bar (Mondelez)
Climate Land Leaders
Colorado Department of Agriculture
Conservation Action Fund for Education
Consumer Reports
Conway Locally Grown
Cow Creek Farm
Cyclone Farms Inc
Daily Harvest
Danone North America
Diane’s Market Kitchen
DonnaLonna Kitchen
Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps
Dr. Yolanda Whyte Pediatrics
Earthjustice
Eco Lips, Inc.
Ela Family Farms
Endangered Species Coalition
Environmental Working Group
Families Advocating for Chemical and Toxics Safety
Farm Action Fund
Farmworkers
Association of Florida
Firestone Pacific Foods
Florida Veterans for Common Sense, Inc.
Flower Hill Institute
Food Animal Concerns Trust
Forest Glen Jerseys Dairy
Forest Glen Oaks Dairy
Freddy's Farm
Friends of the Earth
Frog Hollow Farm
Future Roots Farm
Georgia Organics
Grain Place Foundation
Grandparents in Action
Green America
Greensward New Natives
Grow Pittsburgh
Harmony Organic Dairy LLC
HEAL Food Alliance
Hemlock Grove Farm
Hispanic Access Foundation
Homera
Hungry Bear Farm
Humming Bee Nursery
iEat Green, LLC
Illinois Stewardship Alliance
Indian Creek Nature Center
Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy
Interfaith Power & Light
Iowa Farmers Union
Iowa Organic Association
Iowana Farm
Island CultureZ
Jacobs Farm • Del Cabo
Jessica Dowding Agency
Jóia Food & Fiber Farm
Kansas Farmers Union
Kiatta Creek Farm
Kiss the Ground
KOVAL Distillery
Lancaster Farm Fresh Cooperative
Latino Farmers & Ranchers International, Inc.
Learning 4 Life Farm
Leroy & Rose Meyer Farm
Little Paradise Farm
Love Is Love Cooperative Farm
Maine Organic Farmers & Gardeners Association
Marbleseed
Marin Food Policy Council
Mark J. Guay, PC
Marlene's Market and Deli
Marmalade Sky, LLC
MI ALMA
Michigan Food and Farming Systems
Midwest Organic Services Association
Mika Meadows, LLC
Missouri Organic Association
Molino Creek LLC
Montana Organic Association
Mount Rainier Creamery
National Center for Appropriate Technology
National Co+op Grocers
National Family Farm Coalition
National Organic Coalition
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
National Wildlife Federation
National Young Farmers Coalition
Natural Grocers
Natural Resources Defense Council
Naturepedic Organic Mattresses
Nature's Path Foods, Inc.
New England Farmers Union
New Jersey Conservation Foundation
New Mexico Food and Agriculture Policy Council
New Seasons Market
Non-Toxic Neighborhoods
North Carolina Association of Black Lawyers Land Loss
Prevention Project
Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance
Northeast Organic Farming Association Interstate Council
Northeast Organic Farming Association of Connecticut
Northeast Organic Farming Association of Massachusetts
Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Hampshire
Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Jersey
Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York
Northeast Organic Farming Association of Rhode Island
Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont
Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides
Northwest Forest Worker Center
Nutrition & Fitness Collaborative of the Central Coast
Ohio Ecological Food & Farm Association
OPINS Coganic Co-op
Optimum Service Group
Oregon Organic Coalition
Oregon Tilth
Organic Farmers' Agency for Relationship Marketing (OFARM)
Organic Farmers Association
Organic Farming Research Foundation
Organic Material Review Institute (OMRI)
Organic Seed Alliance
Organic Trade Association
Organic Valley
Organic Voices
Organically Grown Company
Pasa Sustainable Agriculture
Patagonia
Pennsylvania Certified Organic
Pesticide Action Network
PNW Ag Sales LLC.
Potomac Vegetable Farms
Protect Wild Petaluma
Prudent Produce
Rachel Carson Council
Regenerate America
Regenerative Organic Alliance
Rincon-Vitova Insectaries
Robert McClelland Dairy
Rodale Institute
Roots of Change
Rowan Food and Farm Network
Rural Advancement Foundation International-USA
Rural Advancement Fund of the National Sharecroppers Fund
Rural Coalition
Rural Development Leadership Network
Safe Ag Safe Schools (Monterey Bay)
Samadhi
Silver Tree Spirits
Silvix Resources
Sonoma County Climate Activist Network (SoCoCAN!)
Sonrise Organic Farm
Spring Sunrise Natural Foods
Springfield Food Policy Council
SPROUT
Sprouts Farmers Market
Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability
Stone Soup Advisors
Stonyfield
Straits Brothers Farm, Inc.
Taylor Farms
Tenacious Turtle Farm
Thaxton Organic Garlic
The Cornucopia Institute
The Food Co-op
The Montauk Seaweed Supply Company
The Old Bakery Beer Company
The Organic & Non-GMO Report
The Synergy Company (Pure Synergy)
Tilth Alliance
Toxic Free North Carolina
Union of Concerned Scientists
Village Bakery & Cafe
Virginia Association for Biological Farming
Viva Farms
Wattonville Family Farm
Western Organic Dairy Producers Alliance
Whole Foods Market
Wilbur Ellis Organics
Wild Farm Alliance
Wine & Water Watch
Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation
YardSmartMarin
