Details
Organic Processing Magazine and
Organic Trade Association Partner for
Education Track
Attendees of the All Things
Organic 2009 Conference and
Trade Show will have the chance
to experience the Organic
Ingredients/Processors
Educational Track sponsored by Organic Processing Magazine and the Organic
Trade Association. The Conference will take place June 16-18 at McCormick
Place, Chicago, IL. Listed below are some of the topics to be covered.
Organic 101: Hot Organic Ingredient Trends
Keep ahead of the curve! Ingredient suppliers and processors will learn
together about hot new trends in organic ingredients in this session, led by
experts from Organic Processing Magazine. Functional foods, fair trade products, and new developments in minor ingredients will be discussed with an
eye toward producing enticing and authentic organic products with con-sumer-friendly labels.
Global Marketplace, Global Supply Chain
How global is the organic supply chain? What is known about the movement of organic products into and out of North America? Featuring the latest
information from USDA’s Economic Research Service, you’ll learn from our
panel of speakers what to pay attention to, what you are accountable for at
your level of the supply chain, how to ensure the quality of the inputs you
buy, and how to responsibly sell surplus. Whether you buy or sell organic
ingredients or products, this is a timely discussion you don’t want to miss.
Innovation and Collaboration in Sustainable Packaging
Learn about the latest innovations in sustainable packaging solutions.
You’ll hear about new options and best practices from those companies that
are partnering to craft functional new products and create demand for eco-packaging throughout the industry. Leave with a broader understanding of
the options available and some great ideas on how to invent new custom
packaging solutions to suit your needs.
Promises and Pitfalls of Private Label
In today’s economy, the convergence of consumers seeking to live their
values while stretching their dollars to get the best quality for the price has
set the stage for even greater growth in organic private label. Hear panelists
share their perspectives on and experiences with the three basic approaches
to private label: “beat ‘em, join ‘em, or co-exist with ‘em.” Whether your company makes private label products or competes with them, this session will
give you timely insight and advice you need to make an informed decision
about how to successfully maneuver through the private label landscape.
Visit www.organicexpo.com for more details or to registers visit
www.RegisterNowChicago.com.
Upcoming Events at the Nation’s Capital
OTA 2009 Policy Conference & Hill Visit Day
On March 25 and 26, hear directly from
Capitol Hill and the U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) on policies affecting
organic production and processing and
visit members of Congress and their
staffs on the Hill. Be a part of the
organic industry’s voice asking for key
appropriations in support of organic.
Sign up early as registration is limited.
For more details, contact Tim Callahan
at the Organic Trade Association
413.376.1217.
National Organic Standards Board Meeting
Plan to attend the next National Organic Standards
Board (NOSB) meeting, held May 4-6, 2009 in
Washington, D.C. This is a chance to be directly involved
with the organic regulation rule making process as the
board openly debates on issues that will impact the
industry and consumers. The organic industry and community at large is invited to sign up to speak during the
public comment sessions and contribute research and
thoughts on issues that are important to them. The
meeting will be held at the Washington Plaza Hotel and
there is a block of rooms available at a group rate until
April 3, 2009. Call 202.842.1300 for reservations and ask
for the USDA group rate.
Consumers Still Purchasing
Sustainable Products
The Hartman Group’s new report,
“Sustainability: The Rise of Consumer
Responsibility” finds that 62 percent of consumers say that current economic conditions
have had no impact on their purchase of sustainable products and 13 percent are buying
more sustainable products now. The report is
based on consumer surveys and interviews conducted in September/October of 2008.
According to Hartman, “In many ways, the
term ‘sustainability’ has become synonymous
with responsibility for consumers. It’s seen as
just ‘doing the right thing.’ When consumers
are forced to make tradeoffs, sustainable categories typically remain consistently purchased
as consumers perceive them to still be the most
important to their quality of life.”
