First-time exposure on a new continent, sponsored activities in five new countries and the creation of a host of new organic exporters – these are some of the benchmarks achieved by the Organic Trade Association’s robust export promotion efforts in 2017. That string of success promises to continue in 2018 with the award of $847,000 to the association by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Market Access Program (MAP).

“Our export promotion programs work. In all of the countries where we do activity, U.S. organic exports to those regions have grown,” said Monique Marez, director of international trade for the Organic Trade Association. “The organic industry can’t happen without trade, and we are looking forward to continuing our efforts in 2018 to help expand the organic market.” 

“We thank the USDA for appreciating the importance of our export promotion activities and supporting our work,” said Laura Batcha, CEO and executive director of the Organic Trade Association. “There are huge opportunities – and challenges – for the U.S. organic sector throughout the world, and we’re helping the industry to take advantage of those opportunities in untapped markets and to meet the challenges created by the growing global appetite for organic.”

The Organic Trade Association has been an official cooperator in USDA’s Market Access Program for more than 15 years, 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.

For more information, visit www.ota.com.