Organic Trade Assoc

Organic Trade Association, a Washington, DC-based nonprofit organization, functions as a prime recipient of federal cooperative agreements and project grants focused on organic agriculture market development, regulatory compliance support, and farmer transition assistance. The organization does not hold federal contracts and operates exclusively as a grant recipient across the Department of Agriculture's civilian agricultural programs, with no set-aside designations applicable to its nonprofit structure.

OTA's federal footprint centers on the Department of Agriculture, with 14 of 16 recent awards (88% coverage) distributed across four USDA agencies. The Agricultural Marketing Service leads activity with six awards supporting organic market promotion, supply-chain strengthening, and farmer transition initiatives. The Foreign Agricultural Service accounts for three awards under the Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (CFDA 10.618) focused on export market development for U.S. organic agricultural commodities through cooperative agreements running through 2028 and 2030. The National Institute of Food and Agriculture funds three awards for organic education and workforce development, including a risk management education partnership. The National Resources Conservation Service and Foreign Agricultural Service account for the remaining two awards. Combined obligated dollars across all 16 prime and sub awards total $24.4 million.

Representative prime work includes a $1.5 million cooperative agreement awarded April 22, 2026, by USDA Foreign Agricultural Service to develop and expand commercial export markets for certified U.S. organic commodities, running through September 30, 2028. A May 31, 2024, project grant from USDA Agricultural Marketing Service supports organic product promotion and demand stimulation targeting 27,400 addresses in the organic integrity database across producers, buyers, and processors, with completion through May 30, 2027. OTA also holds a February 16, 2024, cooperative agreement with Agricultural Marketing Service to support implementation of the Strengthening Organic Enforcement Rule, providing guidance to certifying agents and stakeholders through regulatory guideline development and quarterly reporting, completed in February 2025.

In its sub-recipient role (44% of awards), OTA delivers farmer-to-farmer mentorship, technical assistance, and workforce training under prime awards held by Florida Certified Organic Growers, Oregon Tilth, the CCOF Foundation, and the University of Minnesota. Sub-awards focus on regional transition support, organic career network development, and conservation planning on transitioning farms across the Southeast and Midwest.

Activity levels remain modest and stable—three awards in 2022, declining to two in 2025 and 2026—with three awards reaching ultimate completion within the next twenty-four months. OTA's capability footprint is restricted to organic agriculture policy, market development, farmer education, and compliance support; it does not compete for contracts or provide operational services outside the organic agriculture and regulatory domain.