Managing
(continued from page 26)
advice to have a third party inspect
the product prior to shipment can
eliminate the need for lawyers.
companies and consultants that specialize in organic.
Conclusion: Supporting Organic Growth through Contracting
Organic is a dynamic industry that is not going to be slowing any
time soon. In fact, current projections show organics growing from 3
percent of the total U.S. food market to 10 percent within the next
several years. There are many that see this growth and want to jump
in, but before doing so, you must learn to look at sourcing differently.
Even though it may seem complicated, sourcing in the organic
world comes down to two main things: planning and commitment—
the key components of contracting. By contracting, you are not only
ensuring that you have needed ingredients, you are also investing in
the future of organic by encouraging growers and suppliers to take the leap needed to make more organic ingredients available.
Finding Producers to Partner With
Before you start drawing up contracts, you must first find the producers
that are growing what you need or are
willing to do so. Many buyers start with
a Google search. The Organic Trade
Association’s website also links buyers
to thousands of organic ingredients.
Go to www.OTA.com, then follow the
link to “Organic Ingredients.” You can
also use the “Organic Ingredients
Needed” link to publicly post the item
you need. This site receives thousands
of hits every day from domestic and
international organic companies and
farmers. New sources are added weekly,
so the site is very dynamic. Should you
require further assistance, the OTA site
also features up-to-date information on
government regulations and links to
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