Organic Farmers Association is a unified voice for organic farmers. We operate under a structure that allows the full diversity of the organic farming movement (types of products, farm size, farmland ownership, regions, cultures, gender, race and ethnicity) to be clearly heard, without any one segment dominating all others.
We believe that the ways in which we work with each other and in organizations and movements must reflect the values we hold for the world.
Please use the resources below to support your organization’s work to improve access to organic technical assistance, education, and certification.
Upcoming Organic Opportunities
Learning Exchange on Equity for Organic Organizations
What: The cohort learning exchange will intersperse learning sessions with planning and practice. At the end of the learning exchange, your team will have actionable next steps for your journey for equity and access in your work, and strong relationships with several other organizations working on their own next steps.
Who: 2-3 members of your upper management team will join similar teams from 8-10 sustainable and organic farming organizations. The organizations who will benefit most from the cohort experience are those who are early enough in their journeys to improve access to organic to all farmers that they do not yet have detailed plans and strategies, yet who are far enough along that they won’t face active opposition or resistance to these efforts from within their organization. If you’re not sure your organization is a good fit, read below in the section “Who might not be a fit?”
When: Starting March 2025 through November 2025 – our estimated start date is March 11th, with recurring sessions on the 2nd Tuesday of the month. We will not meet in July.
Time Commitment: Each facilitated cohort session will last 3-4 hours and require some preparation time.
Cost: Free.
How: Submit an online application by December 1st, 2024.
Past Participants
Cohort 1: OneCert, EcoCert, PCO, OEFFA, QCS, CCOF, Oregon Tilth, OFA
Cohort 2: NOC, ISA, NOFA/Mass, OSA, Known and Grown, MFAI, OFRF, Marbleseed, The Land Connection
Videos: Virtual Presentations
Virtual Presentation: History of Racism in US Agriculture & Organic
Organic organizations have recognized the need for training providing baseline knowledge and common language around issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion across the organic community. This presentation was delivered by Beth Schermerhorn and Asha Carter from Cambium Collective with the input of the steering committee and focus groups.
Download Discussion & Listening Guide
Virtual Presentation: History of Racism in US Agriculture & Organic: The Last 100 Years
Presented by Farmer and University of Minnesota Graduate Student, Tiffany LaShae, this 60-minute webinar will present the history of racism in US agriculture & organic in the past 100 years, focusing on Federal policies that discriminated against and excluded Black & brown farmers.
Download Resource Document
Reports & Fact Sheets
Human Capital Capacity Building Initiative – “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion resources for Organic Professionals” – Full Report (September 2022)
Other Resources
Project Background
The most recent Ag Census data shows that Black, Indigenous, and other people of color are underrepresented in farming, including organic farming.
Additionally, these farmers are historically underserved by a lack of diversity in the population of organic certifiers, organic inspectors, and in the staff of organic farm organizations providing much of the nation’s organic technical assistance and educational programming. We recognize that the organic community needs some basic training for certifiers, inspectors, technical assistance providers, farmers, and staff at organic educational organizations. We need training focused on:
- the legacy and history of race in food & ag systems
- how institutions and systems produce unjust and inequitable outcomes
- how to remove barriers within their organic organizations
We also need to support each other in making progress in our efforts to tackle discrimination in our organizations and in the broader organic community.
This project was supported through funding from both the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service, National Organic Program Human Capital Project. Learn about the other projects funded here and through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP). TOPP is a program of the USDA Organic Transition Initiative and is administered by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) National Organic Program (NOP).