OTA 2007 Fund Campaign Raises $500K-plus

GREENFIELD, Mass. -- The Organic Trade Association's 2007 Annual Fund campaign has raised $528,000 for its public policy, media relations, and advocacy work for the year, the trade group said yesterday.

The theme for this year's fund campaign was "Today. Tomorrow. Together. Organic.," reflecting OTA's vision to bring organic to the next level of growth and sustainability.

OTA's key initiatives for 2007 include gaining comprehensive organic provisions in the U.S. Farm Bill, and, in Canada, helping to implement new national organic standards.

"Organic businesses know the importance of OTA's public policy and advocacy work," said Eric Newman (Organic Valley/CROPP Cooperative, Inc.), co-chair of the OTA 2007 Host Committee, in a statement. "They understand that working together with OTA, we can advance an agenda that benefits organic farmers and a healthy organic marketplace."

Campaign co-chair, Julia Sabin (Smucker Quality Beverages, Inc.), added, "OTA's work is vital, and the success of this campaign reflects the organic business community's overwhelming support for the trade association. OTA members and non-members alike were motivated to give this year, knowing OTA's priorities for the Farm Bill and Canadian Organic Standards are critical to seeing more growth for organic."

In the OTA 2007 campaign, more than 215 companies pledged funds to support OTA's work. OTA has approximately 1,550 members, the majority of which are small businesses.

In addition to pursuing an ambitious Farm Bill plan for organic and watch dogging implementation of the new Canadian national standards, OTA is advancing measures to increase the domestic supply of raw materials, and to promote and market the certified organic label, particularly to consumers. Annual Fund contributions from companies in Canada are earmarked for the work of OTA in Canada.
Top investors, named to the Leadership Circle, are:
-- Cal-Organic/Grimmway Farms (Lamont, Calif.)
-- Nature's Best (Brea, Calif.)
-- Organic Valley (La Farge, Wisc.)
-- Seeds of Change (Santa Fe, N.M.)
-- Small Planet Foods (Sedro-Woolley, Wash.)
-- Smucker Quality Beverages (Chico, Calif.)
-- Stonyfield Farm (Londonderry, N.H.)
-- SunOpta Inc. (Norval, Ontario, Canada)
-- Tree of Life, Inc. (St. Augustine, Fla.)
-- United Natural Foods, Inc. (Dayville, Conn.)
-- WhiteWave Foods (Boulder, Colo.)
-- Whole Foods Market, Inc. (Austin, Texas)
-- Wholesome Sweeteners (Sugar Land, Texas)
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