Organic Community Members Gather in Portland
Last week, over 100 passionate advocates, farmers, policymakers, and community members gathered at the Ecotrust building for NOC's Fall 2024 Pre-NOSB Meeting in Portland, Oregon. The wonderful venue was the perfect backdrop for a day of inspiring discussions, fresh connections, and collaboration to advance the organic movement.
The meeting included a presentation and discussion of the topics the National Organic Standards Board was about to tackle, and how those would impact the future of organic.
We also heard from a dynamic and diverse panel of farmers who shared their experience and challenges around access to land and labor. Thank you to the panelists who took time out of their busy season to share their important insights with the organic community:
Christina Bentrup, Bee Loved Farm + Friends of Family Farmers Farmland Navigator, Springfield, OR
Stewart Kircher, Forest Glen Jerseys, McMinnville, OR
Ben Larson, My Brothers’ Farm, Creswell, OR
Inder Singh, Riverland Family Farms, Corvallis, OR
Attendees also heard an organic policy update, the challenges with the Farm Bill lapsing, and what the different outcomes of the upcoming election might mean for organic.
After lunch, we heard from an organic seed panel facilitated and co-sponsored by the Organic Seed Alliance. Panelists shared information about why organic seed usage is important, barriers to organic seed usage and availability, and discussed strategies for a thriving organic sector with organic seed as a foundation. The panel included panelists who spoke from different perspectives:
Aaron Varadi, Contract Production Manager/Commercial Grower Sales Representative, High Mowing Organic Seeds
Adrienne Shelton, Research & Development Manager Organics, Enza Zaden/Vitalis Organic Seeds
Johanna Phillips, Director of Business Development & Technical Affairs, Strengthening Organic Systems
Louisa Brouwer, Founder, Ferry Boat Seeds
Finally, Dr. Jenny Tucker, Deputy Administrator of the National Organic Program, participated in a facilitated Q&A, and answered questions around the implementation of the Strengthening Organic Enforcement rule, what a sound and sensible approach to certification might look like, equity plans, and the timeline for implementation of the Organic Market Development rule.
The full agenda is linked here, and additional meeting resources can be found here.
A highlight of the day was the chance to spark new connections and renew existing relationships. With so many organic community members from across the country, this gathering felt like a reunion of committed friends and colleagues, all working to grow the organic movement. Conversations buzzed with energy as we strategized ways to strengthen our networks, expand outreach, and engage new voices in our work.
As we left the Ecotrust venue, the message was clear—our movement is strong, and our commitment to organic is unwavering. But we need each other to keep this momentum going. From farmers and advocates to consumers and policymakers, every voice counts in the work ahead.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for this memorable event! Let’s continue building these connections and working together to ensure a vibrant future for organic.
Thank you to our meeting co-sponsors, who made this event possible:
Thank you to the generous donors who contributed snacks and beverages to the meeting: