Building the Future of Organic Handling, Together
OrganicHandlers.org was built by many hands through collaboration, expertise, and shared purpose. This initiative brings together the Organic Trade Association (OTA), the USDA National Organic Program, and leading partners across the organic sector — all united by a single mission:
To empower every handler to grow with integrity, knowledge, and success in organic trade.
USDA National Organic Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) plays a vital role in advancing and safeguarding the organic sector through the National Organic Program (NOP) — the federal regulatory framework that upholds the integrity of the USDA Organic seal.
Through its leadership in setting and enforcing national standards, the USDA ensures that organic products meet consistent requirements for production, handling, and labeling across the supply chain. These standards are the foundation of consumer trust and transparency across the organic marketplace.
OTA works closely with the USDA NOP to strengthen the organic system, support continuous improvement, and expand access to resources that help operations maintain compliance and thrive in the growing organic marketplace.
Together, OTA and USDA are advancing a shared vision for a strong, transparent, and trusted organic marketplace.
Organic Trade Association
The Organic Trade Association (OTA) is the driving force behind this initiative — a nonprofit membership organization representing thousands of organic handlers, processors, retailers, brands, certifiers, farmers, and business associations across the world.
Through this project, OTA is helping build the next generation of organic professionals and businesses — strengthening organic markets from farm to shelf.
Organic Agronomy Training Service
The Organic Agronomy Training Service (OATS) leads the research, writing, and curriculum development that power the educational content on OrganicHandlers.org.
OATS’ team brings decades of experience in organic systems and compliance, translating complex regulatory language into clear, practical learning for handlers, producers, and certification professionals alike. Their work ensures the content is approachable, credible, and directly useful to those on the front lines of organic handling.
CONTENT DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS
This initiative benefits from the insight and review of subject matter experts, designers, and creators whose skills and knowledge ensure that every resource meets the.
Development of the educational materials was made possible through partnerships with:
Filming Partners
These organizations generously opened their facilities and operations to support filming and production. Their participation helped ensure the content reflects real-world organic handling experience.
The People Behind the Work
This project was made possible by the contributions of industry professionals and subject matter experts across the organic supply chain. Their time, expertise, and collaboration helped shape the content throughout this platform.
The Guide represents more than a website — it’s a commitment to collaboration, education, and the continued growth of the organic industry.
If your organization shares our commitment to strengthening the organic marketplace through education, integrity, and collaboration, we invite you to partner with OTA as a member, partner, or contributor.