Organic Report Fall 2021 - Flipbook - Page 22
Quality Systems Assessment Program that was informed
largely by an application from the Organic Trade Association.
A variety of additional programs and increases in funding
will help expand support for farmers transitioning to organic,
such as:
• Designate USDA support staff who are able to answer
technical, programmatic, and regulatory questions about
organic under all USDA agencies.
• Facilitate market connections between transitioning farmers
and buyers, and provide incentives for buyers that offer longterm contracts to transitioning and organic producers.
• Conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the needs of
transitioning farmers in the U.S. across production systems,
scales, geographic regions, product types, and demographic
background, and use results of the analysis to develop, publish,
and implement a plan for overcoming the key barriers.
• Establish a competitive grant program for market and
infrastructure development to expand organic processing
capacity and assist companies in retooling, refurbishing and
rebuilding processing facilities to meet organic market demand
across all regions, commodities and scales.
• Increase purchases of organic food and reduce barriers to
purchasing organic food within feeding programs such as the
school lunch program, the Women, Infant, and Children
(WIC) program, and emergency food assistance programs.
• Expand and improve programs for workforce safety, availability,
and training.
Also critical to supporting transiting farmers is to ensure
that the USDA Organic seal continues to be a strong and
trusted certification that is worth transitioning towards. For
the organic premium to be recognized in the marketplace,
there has to be a clear distinction backed by consistent,
enforceable standards. USDA should work with industry to
repair the public-private partnership to advance organic
standards.
Johanna Mirenda is Farm Policy Director
for the Organic Trade Association
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22
Organic Report • Fall 2021
