The Organic Trade Association will be showcasing American organic products at events throughout the world next year, from the world’s biggest organic trade show in Germany and the largest trade show in the Gulf Region, to the leading retail shows in the Pacific Rim, Australia and Canada.
Bolstered by awards totaling almost $3 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Organic Trade Association’s robust export promotion efforts in 2020 and beyond will return to tested venues to build on earlier successes and participate for the first time in exciting and potentially significant new markets.
USDA announced on Thursday the award of $812,786 to the Organic Trade Association by the agency’s Market Access Program (MAP). The association received funds totaling $1,127,085 from USDA’s Agricultural Trade Promotion (ATP) program earlier in the year. The ATP funds are to be used over the course of three years.
The Organic Trade Association also has received funding for two Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) programs. The first project, funded with $268,400 to be used over two years, will develop an equivalency application template for other countries to use when applying for organic equivalency with the U.S. The second TASC project, funded with $687,000 for a three-year period, revolves around the changing regulations in the European Union and possible impacts on U.S. organic exporters.
“The significant export promotion funding from USDA is allowing the Organic Trade Association to both explore new markets and dig in deeper where we have seen success in recent years,” said Alexis Carey, Manager of International Trade for the association. “Right now, U.S. companies are uniquely situated to expand and diversify the global organic marketplace, and we want to enable them to take advantage of the numerous opportunities available.”
The Organic Trade Association has been an official cooperator in USDA’s Market Access Program for almost 20 years now – investing in the promotion of American organic agricultural products in global markets and connecting buyers and sellers to create new organic customers around the world.
Taking U.S.-grown organic around the world
International activities spearheaded by the trade association reached new heights in 2019 with the advent of additional funding from USDA. By the end of this year, the Organic Trade Association will have led 11 international events in seven different countries, from Asia to the Middle East, Europe, and South America.
Between the Market Access Program and Agricultural Trade Promotion Program funding, over $1 million in USDA export promotion funding was put to good use in attending domestic and international trade shows, leading trade missions and buyer missions, and conducting consumer promotion activities in Japan, Hong Kong, Korea, and the U.A.E.
At the Anuga trade show in Cologne, Germany, the largest food and beverage trade show in the world, the Organic Trade Association hosted an Organic Pavilion showcasing organic products from 12 American organic companies – nine of which were new to the show. The participating companies estimated that they generated over $13 million in new sales at the show. A successful trade mission to Seoul, Korea, in November resulted in projected new sales of over $7 million for the four participating companies. In early December, four organic companies participated in a trade mission to the Middle East Natural and Organic show in Dubai where they met with regional buyers and learned more about export opportunities to the Gulf region.
For more information:
Organic Trade Association
444 N. Capitol St. NW, Suite 445A
Washington D.C. 20001
T: 202-403-8520
www.ota.com