OFA Summer 2024 Interns Explore Organic Careers
Organic Farmers Association welcomed two interns to the team to learn, contribute, and experience organic agriculture advocacy in action. As a part of the Organic Career Network (OCN), OFA has set a goal to increase diversity and equity in the organic sector including support for the exploration of career opportunities in the industry.
OCN connects organic organizations to underrepresented students who are interested in exploring career pathways in the organic industry. The OCN aims to provide students with the opportunity to get hands-on experience with organic certification, inspection, advocacy, and farmer education organizations and agencies.
Welcome Summer Interns
Sofia Caracci
Farmer Services Intern
Having begun her academic studies in nutrition at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Sofia has always had an interest in health and wellness. As a Mellon Scholar in Food Policy, she began to examine the broader context between nutrition, sustainable agriculture, and public health, where her interest in farming grew. Since then, she has coordinated a local farmers market, worked in sustainability curriculum development, and joined the Advisory Board at Chicago Grows Food. In her role as a Farmer Services Intern, Sofia hopes to learn more about farm policy, while leveraging her skills in grassroots organizing and community outreach.
Sancha Gonzalez
Communications Intern
Sancha is a rising senior at Wellesley College pursuing a double major in American Politics and American Studies. She is passionate about fostering equitable and inclusive communities and is driven by the belief that effective policy and community engagement can inspire real political action. Sancha’s interest in sustainable practices extends to organic farming, where she hopes to advocate for environmentally friendly agricultural methods that also value the relationship between community and the land. She believes that organic farming not only benefits the environment but also betters the well-being of the community by providing access to healthy, locally grown food.
Join today and support organic farmers!
Organic Farmers Association members support a strong voice for organic farmers in Washington, D.C.
The Organic Farmers Association is the ONLY national organization where solely independent certified organic farms determine its policies and work agenda. OFA was founded on the belief that the voice of farmers like you should carry the most weight in agricultural policy decisions.
In recent years, OFA has made a difference by putting significant pressure on the USDA to finalize the Origin of Livestock Rule to help organic dairies and finalize the Strengthening Organic Enforcement Rule to stop organic fraud and increase enforcement. We testified and advocated to allow paper pots for small-scale vegetable growers, introduced the ODAIRY Act of 2023, and advocated for stronger animal welfare standards for organic livestock and poultry production (OLPS Rule).
We have proved that farmer voices are stronger when we work together. Join us in this movement by becoming a member today!
Farm
Membership
U.S. certified organic farmers should select this membership. Only farm members are eligible to vote on Organic Farmers Association policy positions and priorities. International farmers, or farms that are not certified organic, should select the Supporter Membership.
Supporter Membership
Not a certified organic farmer, but want to support the organic farmers that make our planet and food systems a better place? Supporter members will be connected to the discussions about policies that affect organic farmers, and be called to advocate on their behalf.
Organization Membership
Organizations that have a significant membership (or stakeholders) of certified organic farmers should select this membership. Organization Members receive the tools they need to advocate for policies important to organic farmers and extend their network.