Washington, D.C. (February 27, 2025) — As the foremost voice of the $70 billion organic industry, the Organic Trade Association (OTA) will have a big presence at the Natural Products Expo West 2025 trade show March 4-7, in Anaheim, California. In addition to hosting a booth at the event, OTA will be leading a series of insightful education sessions on trends in consumer behavior and perception towards organic and competing claims, marketing discussions to help organic continue to grow and thrive, opportunities to advance organic in school procurement, and policy updates from Washington, DC that impact organic, including tariffs.
Here’s How to Connect with the Organic Trade Association at Expo West 2025:
- Engage with OTA at Booth 1735 – Get the latest updates on critical issues impacting the organic industry, explore the resources OTA offers, and dive into how OTA is advocating for organic on Capitol Hill.
- Schedule one-on-one meetings with Matt Landi, OTA VP of Industry Relations to discuss how to tackle challenges, build opportunities, or strategize for growth in the organic marketplace.
- Attend OTA-led education sessions throughout Expo, including:
1. State of Organic: From Consumer Behavior to Policy Impact – A Comprehensive Market Update
Wednesday March 5th, 10:00 – 11:30am PT | Marriott Grand Ballroom E
The first half of this session will dive into data, trends and relevant insights from the Organic Trade Association’s just-released consumer research study. Discussion will include how USDA Organic compares to other popular claims and certifications in the marketplace. The second half of this session will focus on government affairs and the current political landscape for organic in D.C., including discussion of OTA’s advocacy strategy for the organic industry on Capitol Hill.
- Speakers:
- Industry Data and Trends – Tom Chapman, co-CEO, Organic Trade Association; Heidi Diestel, Diestel Family Ranch; Sandy Pfaff, Media Relations, Organic Trade Association
- Government Affairs – Matthew Dillon, co-CEO, Organic Trade Association; Adam Warthesen, Vice President, Government and Industry Affairs, Organic Valley; Ivanna Yang, Vice President, Government Affairs, Organic Trade Association
2. U.S. Organic Trade: International Market Opportunities & Trade Policy Updates
Wednesday, March 5th, 11:30 – 12:30pm PT | Anaheim Convention Center Room 204C
OTA will provide an analysis of the U.S. organic market, including industry size, trending consumer categories, resources for international buyers and tools for accessing information and connecting with suppliers.
- Speaker – Scott Rice, Regulatory Director, Organic Trade Association
3. Tapping into Schools: A Growing Organic Market Opportunity
Thursday, March 6th 2:30pm – 3:30pm | Marriott Grand Ballroom E
This session will explore market opportunities to work with school districts, as many organic brands are stepping up to the challenge of ensuring all students have access to nutritious, healthy food.
- Speakers:
- Matt Landi, Vice President of Industry Relations at OTA
- Judi Shils, Founder & Executive Director, Conscious Kitchen
- Barbara Jellison, Executive Director of Food Service at the West Contra Costa Unified School District
- Sasha Bricel, Director of Marketing Services at Nature’s Path
- Albert Straus, Founder & Executive Chair at Straus Family Creamery
4. Inside Organic Workshop: Elevate, Educate, Communicate—What’s Your Organic Message?
Friday, March 7th 11:00am–12:00pm | Marriott Grand Ballroom F
This collaborative workshop-style roundtable discussion will focus on compelling messaging of organic attributes and expansion of educational resources to help the industry continue to grow and thrive.
- Speakers:
- Tom Chapman, co-CEO, Organic Trade Association
- Nancy Coulter-Parker, Director, Content Marketing, New Hope Network
- Simon Cutts, Sr. Director, Retail Partners, SPINS
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About the Organic Trade Association
The Organic Trade Association (OTA) is the membership-based business association for organic agriculture and products in North America. OTA is the leading voice for the organic trade in the United States, representing organic businesses and producers across the nation. Its members include growers, shippers, processors, certifiers, farmers’ associations, distributors, importers, exporters, consultants, brands, retailers and others. OTA’s mission is to promote and protect ORGANIC with a unifying voice that serves and engages its diverse members from farm to marketplace.
