Organic Produce Association Endorses the Organic Market Development Act
October 5, 2023October 5, 2023 — Last week, the Organic Produce Association was pleased to endorse the Organic Market Development Act, a bill introduced by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Angus King (I-ME) and Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-ME) and Annie Kuster (D-NH).
The Organic Market Development Act will codify the Organic Market Development Grant program, which is currently managed by Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). The bill would provide $75 million annually and authorize an additional $25 million in funding for 2024 and each fiscal year after that.
The bill aims to modernize manufacturing, tracking, storage, and information technology systems; increase the capacity of qualified entities to comply with relevant regulatory requirements or quality standards necessary to access markets; increase the capacity of the domestic organic product supply chain for producers, handlers, suppliers, and processors of certified organic products; improve market development for domestically produced certified organic products and reduce barriers to entry for historically underserved entities for organic product certification. Businesses will be able to purchase new equipment, study new product formulations, and expand and upgrade their facilities to accommodate new products.
“The Organic Produce Association is pleased to support the Organic Market Development Act. Consumer demand for organic produce is at an all-time high. The Organic Market Development Act will continue current USDA efforts to make it easier for producers and others along the organic supply chain to break down current barriers and get more fresh, sustainable healthy organic food to American families,” said Theojary Crisantes, Chairman of the Organic Produce Association.