The oregon organic coalition will lead a multi-sector project to grow the market for organic products from thepacific northwest (PNW)

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) awarded a $1,095,221 Organic Market Development Grant (OMDG) Program (CFDA 10.188) to the Oregon Organic Coalition, Inc. The grant will fund a multi-sector project to grow the market for organic products from the Pacific Northwest (PNW) region. Key activities include assisting organic producers to become market-ready for wholesale sales, supporting them to attend trade shows, and connecting them to buyers with values-based purchasing goals. The project will also conduct strategic communications to educate consumers about the organic label and the benefits of organic food, strengthen the organic food PNW identity and brand image, and build demand for regionally adapted, high-performing, and profitable organic crops and varieties. The project aims to benefit organic producers through improved value chain coordination, promotion, and increased connections to high-value markets, as well as small and mid-scale craft food manufacturers, farm-to-institution programs, and the general public through greater access to organically produced food.

This project represents a major collaboration with partners including the oregondepartment of agriculture, organically grown company, hummingbird wholesale, the good food foundation, tilth alliance, the oregon farm-to-school school garden network, and others to promote oregon- andwashington-produced organic food and strengthen organic market channels. Its purpose is to drive consumerdemand for organic products and expand valuable markets for organic producers, targeting the specialty craftfood and farm-to-school markets. While building organic market position across the entire food sector, IT willfocus on products with identified opportunities for significant growth, including barley and other grains, fruitsand vegetables, hazelnuts, and wine grapes.key activities will include assisting organic producers to become market-ready for wholesale sales supportingthem to attend trade shows and connecting them to buyers with values-based purchasing goals. Partners willalso conduct strategic communications to educate consumers about the organic label and the benefits oforganic food, strengthen organic food in the PNW identity and brand image, and build demand for crops andvarieties that are regionally adapted, high-performing, and profitable for organic producers. The project will benefit organic producers through improved value chain coordination, promotion, and increasedconnections to high-value markets. IT will also benefit small and mid-scale craft food manufacturing businesses, people served by farm-to-institution programs, and the general public, through greater access to organicallyproduced food.