Signature
It’s been over six years since the USDA National Organic Program
(NOP) became official and as we move into our next phase of growth,
it’s time to take a look at where we are and what we can to do to continue the momentum of the organic movement.
In our cover story, Laura Batcha, the new marketing director for the
Organic Trade Association, brings together insight collected through
over 200 interviews with members of the organic community to strategi-
cally analyze our industry’s strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportuni-
ties. Using this insight, the organic industry can take
action to overcome these obstacles and use our strengths
and opportunities to propel us forward.
A segment of the industry that has propelled forward
at a rapid pace in the last couple of years is organic fiber
and textiles. As green becomes the hot new color for fashion, how is this emerging category of organic developing
and defining itself? Elaine Lipson, author of a recently
released report on this subject, offers answers to these
questions in this issue’s special feature.
The organic food category continues to expand and in this issue we
cover several important topics ranging from the latest sterilization methods to keep ingredients safe, to “premiumization,” or the trend of
upgrading products with premium ingredients. Another trend that is
brewing is organic beer. In Enterprise, we feature Wolaver’s Organic Ales,
the first USDA certified organic beer company, which is a leader on several fronts including working with farmers to develop a local supply
chain. Not everything can be sourced locally though, and as the organic
food market grows, importing is inevitable. Consultant, Dr. Winfried
Fuchshofen, provides solutions to the challenges of global sourcing in
our Managing column.
Yet another sign of growth in the organic industry, like it or not, is an
increasing number of mergers and acquisitions. When Honest Tea sold
40 percent of their company to Coke earlier this year, the organic community was shocked. However, at the Organic Summit this past summer, I
met the company’s “TeaEO,” Seth Goldman, and had a chance to hear
more about the reasoning behind his decision. We continue this conversation in this issue’s Dialogue, in which Goldman discusses his intentions
for this partnership and how Coke will help bring organic to the masses.
Overall, as the organic industry continues to grow, there will always be
obstacles and opportunities. Throughout all of this, we must continually
strive for improvement and never forget the values that this industry was
founded on. If the organic community can focus on these things, we can
maintain the momentum and continue to change the world an acre at a
time.
Chief Executive Officer Don Meeker
Publisher Stacy Atchison
Advertising Manager Bobby Meeker
Editorial Director Kathryn Schuett
Art Director Craig Van Wechel
Circulation Manager Andrea Karges
Sales Assistant Allison Demmert
Office Manager Vicki Martin
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Stacy Atchison 310.745.0941
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Adam Haas 561.347.8445
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Printed on recycled paper.
Sincerely,
Kat Schuett
Editorial Director
Organic Processing (USPS 024-104) is published
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MISSION STATEMENT:
Organic Processing
provides an independent forum for
the exchange of practical and
relevant information, ideas and
experience that will promote and
sustain the growth of organic
processing from seed to shelf.
