Last week, the Organic Trade Association (OTA) submitted two letters to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins to uplift the importance of federal organic programs – Organic Market Development Grants (OMDG) and Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP).
The first letter was spearheaded by Vermont Secretary of Agriculture Anson Tebbetts and Wisconsin Secretary of Agriculture Randy Romanski and co-signed by 10 state departments of agriculture.
The second letter was signed by 98 farmers and organizations.
Both letters emphasize the value of OMDG and TOPP for empowering farmers to grow healthy food for American families. OMDG removes barriers in the organic supply chain, helping more farmers bring their products to market while TOPP focuses on mentorship, technical assistance, and workforce and market development. Combined, these programs invest in the capacity of American farmers to meet increasing domestic demand for certified organic food.
OTA worked closely with CCOF and partners across the organic community on this effort.